Chapter 7 - The BetrayalThe old warehouse was empty when Dominic arrived.
He carried the ledger.
Marco stayed hidden nearby.
Evelyn remained in the car.
Dominic walked inside.
“Victor!”
His voice echoed.
A light turned on.
Victor stood above him on a metal balcony.
Lily was beside him.
Her hands were free.
Her rabbit was tucked beneath one arm.
“Daddy!”
Dominic's heart nearly broke.
Victor smiled.
“Family reunion.”
“Let her go.”
“Give me the ledger.”
Dominic held it up.
Victor nodded.
“Good.”
He walked downstairs.
But something about his expression was wrong.
Dominic realized the truth.
Victor didn't intend to let Lily go.
“You're going to kill us both,” Dominic said.
Victor smiled.
“You finally understand.”
He raised his gun.
Then another voice came from behind him.
“Put it down.”
Marco stepped from the shadows.
Victor turned.
Moretti security officers surrounded the warehouse.
But Victor laughed.
“You think I came alone?”
The lights suddenly went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Dominic grabbed Lily.
They dropped behind a concrete barrier.
Marco shouted instructions.
Evelyn ran inside.
“Evelyn!”
She found them.
“Lily!”
Mother and daughter embraced.
Victor disappeared into the chaos.
Dominic looked at Evelyn.
“Get her out.”
“What about you?”
“I'll be right behind you.”
Evelyn hesitated.
Then nodded.
Dominic chased Victor through the warehouse.
They reached the loading dock.
Victor turned.
“Your father ruined everything.”
Dominic stopped.
“My father?”
“He should have handed the company to me.”
“You murdered him?”
Victor smiled.
“I didn't have to.”
Dominic's face hardened.
Victor continued.
“He died believing you hated him.”
Dominic took one step forward.
“You stole eighteen years from me.”
“I gave you a life.”
“You gave me a lie.”
Victor raised the gun.
Dominic moved.
The weapon fired.
The bullet struck a metal beam.
Dominic tackled Victor.
The gun skidded across the floor.
They fought brutally.
But Dominic stopped when he saw Lily standing in the doorway.
“Daddy!”
Dominic froze.
Victor tried to reach for the gun.
Marco kicked it away.
Police sirens approached outside.
Dominic looked at Victor.
“You're finished.”
Victor laughed.
“You think prison scares me?”
“No.”
Dominic looked at him calmly.
“The truth does.”
The ledger had already been sent to federal investigators.
The recordings were secured.
Victor's network was exposed.
He had lost.
But as police entered the warehouse, Lily ran into Dominic's arms.
He lifted her.
She buried her face against his chest.
“You came.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“I promised.”
“You always come back?”
He held her tighter.
“Always.”
For the first time, Dominic understood something his father had never understood.
May you like
Family wasn't something you protected by controlling it.
Family was something you protected by being there.
Related Stories
