Chapter 7 - Vanessa's First Marriage
“VANESSA WAS MARRIED TO MY BROTHER BEFORE SHE EVER MET ME?”
Dominic stared at the note.
Miriam Cole nodded slowly.
“She was.”
He shook his head.
“No. Vanessa told me she'd never been married.”
“She lied.”
“Michael was supposed to be dead.”
“He wasn't.”
Dominic felt anger rising.
“Why would she marry me?”
Miriam looked away.
“That's what Elena was trying to find out.”
Dominic stood beside the hospital bed.
He thought of Vanessa arriving at his house after Elena disappeared.
How she'd comforted Sophie.
How she'd encouraged him to stop searching.
How she'd told him he deserved happiness.
For four years, she'd been living inside his family.
And every day, she'd been hiding a marriage to his brother.
“Did Michael know she was involved with me?”
Miriam shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Dominic called Daniel.
“I need proof of Vanessa's marriage to Michael.”
Daniel was silent for a moment.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Elena left a note.”
“I'll check.”
Within two hours, Daniel located a marriage certificate filed in Nevada under assumed names.
Michael Moretti had used the name Matthew Reed.
Vanessa Sterling had used her legal name.
The marriage had taken place seven years earlier.
One year before Michael's supposed death.
There was no divorce record.
Dominic stared at the document.
Vanessa was still legally married to Michael.
Which meant she couldn't have legally married Dominic that afternoon, even if Sophie hadn't interrupted the ceremony.
He almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the cruelty was beyond anything he could understand.
That night, Caleb received a call from an unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said, “Tell Dominic to stop searching for Grace.”
Caleb stiffened.
“Who is this?”
“You know who.”
Caleb looked at Dominic.
The voice continued.
“If he wants his daughter alive, he needs to come alone.”
“Where?”
“The old Moretti warehouse. Midnight.”
The call ended.
Dominic stared at Caleb.
“Was that Michael?”
Caleb hesitated.
“I think so.”
Dominic took his coat.
Caleb stepped in front of him.
“Boss, it's a trap.”
“Probably.”
“Then don't go.”
Dominic looked at him.
“My daughter is missing.”
“I know.”
“And my brother may be alive.”
Caleb lowered his voice.
“Then let me arrange surveillance.”
Dominic nodded.
“No weapons inside. No confrontation unless someone's life is in danger.”
At midnight, Dominic entered the abandoned warehouse.
The building smelled of rust and wet concrete.
A single overhead light illuminated the center of the floor.
A man stood beneath it.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
With a scar along his jaw.
Dominic stopped.
“Michael?”
The man turned.
For six years, Dominic had imagined this moment.
He'd imagined embracing his brother.
Apologizing.
Asking forgiveness for their last argument.
Instead, Michael Moretti looked at him with cold eyes.
“You shouldn't have come.”
Dominic took a step forward.
“You're alive.”
Michael said nothing.
Dominic's voice broke.
“I buried you.”
“I know.”
“Mom knew.”
“Yes.”
“Dad knew.”
“Yes.”
Dominic stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Michael's jaw tightened.
“Because you were Dad's favorite son.”
The words landed like a punch.
“You think I would've turned you in?”
“I think you would've believed him.”
Dominic looked away.
He couldn't deny it.
Michael continued.
“Antonio had people killed to protect his money. I found the records. Elena helped me.”
“Why Elena?”
“Because she was the only person in that house who believed me.”
Dominic swallowed.
“Where is she?”
Michael's expression changed.
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
“I'm not.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Where's Grace?”
Michael looked toward the shadows.
“Safe.”
Dominic's heart hammered.
“You've seen her?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I can't tell you.”
“She's my daughter!”
Michael's voice rose.
“And she's alive because you don't know where she is!”
Dominic froze.
Michael lowered his voice.
“Vanessa has been looking for her for years.”
“Why?”
“Because Grace is connected to the evidence Elena hid.”
Dominic frowned.
“She's a child.”
“I know.”
“Then what could she possibly have?”
Michael hesitated.
“Something Elena placed in her care.”
Dominic stared.
“What?”
“A key.”
Dominic thought of the brass key Sophie had carried in Elena's veil.
“I already found a key.”
Michael's eyes widened.
“What key?”
Dominic described it.
Michael stepped forward.
“Where is it?”
“With my attorney.”
Michael exhaled sharply.
“Then there's still a chance.”
“A chance for what?”
“To find the original ledger.”
Dominic frowned.
“What ledger?”
“The record of every payment Antonio made. Every bribe. Every false medical report. Every disappearance.”
Dominic stared.
“Why would Elena hide it?”
“Because she knew Dad would destroy it.”
“And Vanessa?”
Michael's face hardened.
“She wanted it.”
Dominic looked at him.
“You married her.”
Michael nodded.
“I did.”
“Did you love her?”
For the first time, Michael looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“She found out what I was investigating. She told Antonio.”
Dominic felt cold.
“Your own wife betrayed you?”
Michael nodded.
“She thought he'd pay her.”
“Did he?”
“More than she could spend.”
Dominic looked toward the dark warehouse.
“Where is Vanessa now?”
Michael hesitated.
“I don't know.”
“Did you help her escape the wedding?”
“No.”
“Then why call me?”
Michael looked at him.
“Because someone else is hunting Grace.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Who?”
Michael took a breath.
“Richard Voss.”
Dominic stared.
His father's attorney.
The man who had controlled the family estate.
The man seen leaving the airfield with Vanessa.
Michael continued.
“Voss has spent four years trying to find the ledger. If he gets it, he'll destroy everyone connected to it.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Then help me find Grace.”
Michael looked at him for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
But before either man could speak, a phone rang in the darkness.
Michael's phone.
He answered.
His face drained of color.
“What?”
A woman's voice screamed through the speaker.
“MICHAEL! THEY FOUND US!”
Then a child began crying.
Dominic froze.
He knew that voice.
Not because he'd heard it before.
Because it sounded exactly like Sophie at four years old.
Michael shouted into the phone.
“Rebecca! Listen to me!”
A loud crash interrupted him.
Then a man's voice spoke.
Calm.
Familiar.
May you like
Richard Voss.
“HELLO, DOMINIC. I BELIEVE I HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO YOU.”
