Chapter 4 - THE SECRET EMMA'S MOTHER CARRIEDEmma called her mother the next morning.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Her chest tightened.
"She always answers."
Dominic stood beside the window.
"Where does she live?"
"Queens."
"I'll send someone."
"No."
He looked at her.
"I need to know what's happening."
"So do I."
They drove to Queens.
The apartment door was unlocked.
Emma's stomach dropped.
"Mom?"
No answer.
She rushed inside.
The apartment had been searched.
Drawers pulled open.
Clothes scattered.
Photographs ripped from frames.
Her mother's medical files were everywhere.
"Mom!"
Nothing.
Then Emma saw blood.
A small smear on the kitchen floor.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Dominic caught her.
"Don't."
"She's here."
"Maybe."
They searched every room.
Empty.
Then Marco found a phone.
"Boss."
He held it up.
A message was displayed.
THE GIRL HAS SOMETHING WE NEED.
Emma's blood ran cold.
"They took her."
Dominic's expression became deadly.
"Yes."
"Then we have to find her."
"We will."
"Now."
His eyes met hers.
"Now."
The trail led to an abandoned hotel in Brooklyn.
Dominic's men surrounded the building.
Emma stayed in the car.
But when she heard a gunshot, she opened the door.
Dominic grabbed her.
"No."
"My mother is inside."
"I know."
"Then let me go."
"You're not trained."
"She's my mother."
His expression changed.
He understood.
He released her.
"Stay behind me."
They entered.
The hotel smelled like dust and gasoline.
They found Diane Carter tied to a chair.
She was alive.
Barely conscious.
"Mom!"
Emma ran toward her.
Dominic stopped her long enough to check for traps.
Then released her.
Emma dropped beside her mother.
"Mom."
Diane opened her eyes.
"Emma?"
"I'm here."
Her mother looked past her.
At Dominic.
Fear flooded her face.
"You..."
Dominic crouched.
"What did you know about my father?"
Diane trembled.
"I should have told you years ago."
"Told me what?"
"Your father wasn't betrayed by his brother."
Dominic went still.
"What?"
Diane swallowed.
"Your father was betrayed by someone else."
"Who?"
She looked at Emma.
Then back at Dominic.
"Someone inside the Castellano family."
"Who?"
Before she could answer, a bullet shattered the window.
Dominic pulled Emma to the ground.
Gunfire erupted.
His men returned fire.
Marco dragged Diane behind cover.
Dominic shielded Emma with his body.
"Stay down."
"I am."
"Don't move."
Minutes later, silence.
The attackers were gone.
Diane was shaking.
"Who betrayed my father?"
Dominic asked again.
She whispered:
"Your aunt."
Dominic's face became stone.
"Lucia?"
"No."
Diane shook her head.
"Your father's sister."
"My father had only one sister."
"No."
Diane looked terrified.
"Your father had another."
Dominic stared.
"What?"
"She was erased from the family."
"Why?"
"Because she knew where the money went."
Emma looked at her mother.
"What money?"
Diane closed her eyes.
"The money that started the war."
She began crying.
"Your grandfather didn't build the empire honestly."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying the Castellano fortune was built on something stolen."
Silence.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
"Finally."
Everyone turned.
A man stood in the shadows.
Older.
Gray hair.
A familiar face.
Dominic raised his weapon.
The man smiled.
"Hello, nephew."
Dominic's eyes widened.
"Matteo."
His uncle stepped into the light.
"The family has been lying to you for twenty years."
May you like
Then he looked at Emma.
"And your mother has been lying to you even longer."
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