Chapter 5 - THE SECRET IN THE SAFE
Harper couldn't sleep.
She kept looking at the photograph.
Her father.
Dominic.
Together.
Years before she had met him.
She confronted Dominic at dawn.
“You knew my father.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since I was nineteen.”
Harper felt betrayed.
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you.”
“You don't get to use that word every time you hurt me.”
Dominic accepted the accusation.
“My father and yours worked together.”
“Doing what?”
“Shipping.”
“Legal shipping?”
“No.”
Harper closed her eyes.
“Of course.”
Dominic continued.
“Your father discovered that my family was planning to move weapons through legitimate freight companies.”
“And he tried to stop you?”
“He tried to expose them.”
“What happened?”
“My father ordered him killed.”
Harper stepped backward.
“My father was murdered?”
Dominic nodded.
“I was nineteen. I couldn't stop it.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because the people responsible were still alive.”
She stared.
“Carmine?”
“Yes.”
Harper's breathing became shallow.
“Then why did you marry me?”
Dominic's voice broke slightly.
“Because Carmine was looking for you.”
She froze.
“You chose me to protect me.”
“At first.”
“And later?”
“You became the reason I wanted to survive.”
Harper looked away.
The revelation changed everything.
Then she noticed something.
A small key on Dominic's desk.
“What is that?”
“My father's safe.”
“Where?”
He hesitated.
“Below the house.”
They descended together.
The safe was hidden behind a stone wall.
Dominic opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And a letter.
Harper recognized her father's handwriting.
She unfolded it.
If my daughter ever finds this, tell her I was trying to keep her safe.
Her eyes filled.
Another line stopped her.
Dominic Russo is the only man I trust to protect her.
Harper looked at Dominic.
“You knew about this?”
“No.”
He genuinely looked shocked.
She continued reading.
If Carmine ever discovers Harper survived, he will use her to control Dominic.
Harper's hands trembled.
There was one final sentence.
Do not let Harper marry into the Russo family.
Silence.
Harper looked up.
“That doesn't make sense.”
Dominic stared at the letter.
“No.”
“Your father trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“Mine told you to protect me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he tell you never to let me marry you?”
Dominic looked at the documents.
“Because he knew something we don't.”
Suddenly, the safe door slammed shut.
They turned.
A figure stood in the darkness.
Gun raised.
Dominic pushed Harper behind him.
A shot exploded.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
“Dominic!”
He staggered.
The attacker ran.
Harper grabbed a fallen flashlight.
“Are you hurt?”
“It's nothing.”
“You're bleeding.”
“Later.”
He looked at the doorway.
“Run.”
“Where?”
“Upstairs.”
They raced through the underground corridor.
Behind them, footsteps echoed.
Someone had infiltrated the estate.
They reached the elevator.
Dominic pressed the button.
Harper looked at him.
“Who was that?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Then Harper noticed something on the floor.
A silver ring.
She picked it up.
There was a tiny emblem engraved inside.
The same emblem she had seen on Carmine's cufflinks.
She looked at Dominic.
“It was him.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Carmine wouldn't leave evidence.”
Harper stared at the ring.
Then understood.
“Someone wants us to believe it was Carmine.”
May you like
Dominic nodded.
“And that means the real traitor is much closer.”
