Chapter 10 - THE LAST ENEMYThe photograph reached Dominic two days later.
Technically, he attempted breakfast.
The eggs burned.
The toast smoked.
Sophie watched from the kitchen island with grave concern.
“You have people who do this for you, don't you?”
Dominic stared at the frying pan.
“Yes.”
“You should call them.”
Anna laughed from the doorway.
Dominic turned.
She wore one of his sweaters.
Her hair was damp from a shower.
For half a second, he was transported backward six years.
Sunday mornings.
Coffee.
Anna stealing his shirts.
A future he thought had vanished.
Then reality returned.
Federal vehicles were parked downstairs.
Dominic had agreed to surrender at nine.
His lawyers were already meeting with prosecutors.
The ledger exposed criminal activity within his own companies.
Money laundering.
Bribery.
Illegal surveillance.
Dominic hadn't personally ordered all of it.
Enough bore his authorization.
He wasn't innocent.
And he had decided not to pretend otherwise.
Anna sat beside Sophie.
“What is that smell?”
“My breakfast,” Dominic said.
Sophie whispered, “It's bad.”
Anna covered a smile.
Dominic threw the eggs away.
“Cereal.”
“Good choice,” Sophie said.
He poured cereal into three bowls.
For several minutes, they ate quietly.
Then Sophie asked:
“Are the police taking you away?”
Dominic's spoon stopped.
Anna looked at him.
He had wanted to delay this conversation.
Sophie deserved the truth.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I don't know.”
“Because you did bad things?”
Dominic swallowed.
“Yes.”
Sophie stared into her cereal.
“But you saved Mommy.”
“That doesn't erase the bad things.”
Her eyes watered.
“Will you come back?”
“Yes.”
He reached across the island.
“I will do everything I can to come back.”
“What if it's years?”
Anna looked away.
Dominic answered carefully.
“Then I will call you every day I'm allowed.”
“What about birthdays?”
“I'll remember every one.”
“Christmas?”
“Every Christmas.”
“School?”
“I'll ask about everything.”
Sophie sniffled.
“That sounds terrible.”
Dominic almost smiled.
“It does.”
She slid off her chair and climbed onto his lap.
He held her.
“I just found you.”
“I know.”
“It's not fair.”
“No.”
“Can you run away?”
Anna looked at Dominic.
A small part of him appreciated the suggestion.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I run away whenever I don't like the consequences, I'm teaching you something wrong.”
Sophie rested her head against his chest.
“I don't like consequences.”
“Neither do most adults.”
At nine exactly, Dominic walked downstairs.
Anna and Sophie remained inside.
Gabriel came with him.
“You don't need to do this,” Dominic said.
“Yes, I do.”
“You didn't order the crimes.”
“I participated in some.”
Dominic looked at him.
Gabriel shrugged.
“Accountability, remember?”
Dominic sighed.
“I hate when people listen to me.”
Federal agents waited.
Dominic handed over his phone.
Then his weapon.
One agent approached with handcuffs.
Gabriel held out his hands too.
Before they entered the vehicle, Dominic looked up.
Sophie stood at the penthouse window thirty floors above.
Tiny hand pressed against the glass.
Dominic raised his hand.
Then got into the car.
The next three months transformed New York.
Victor Sloane was charged under federal racketeering statutes, along with dozens of associates.
Evidence linked him to murders, corruption, extortion, and witness intimidation spanning more than twenty years.
Adrian Cross cooperated in exchange for consideration at sentencing.
Dr. Evelyn Shaw pleaded guilty to kidnapping.
Michael Rourke confessed to Dominic's father's murder and provided information about dozens of cold cases.
Julian survived.
He also faced charges.
Less severe.
Still real.
Dominic's attorneys negotiated.
The government wanted cooperation.
Dominic had plenty to offer.
But he refused immunity.
“I'll testify,” he told prosecutors. “I'll explain the structure. I'll turn over companies. Accounts. Names.”
His attorney stared.
“And in exchange?”
“Nothing.”
“Dominic.”
“I said nothing.”
“You could face fifteen years.”
“I know.”
“You have a daughter.”
“I know.”
“Then act like it.”
Dominic looked through the visitation glass toward Sophie waiting outside with Anna.
“I am.”
Eventually, prosecutors offered a plea.
Five years.
Potential release in three with cooperation and good behavior.
Dominic accepted.
Anna cried when he told her.
“I stole five years from you already.”
“You saved her.”
“I should've trusted you.”
“You were afraid.”
“So were you.”
Dominic looked at her.
“We were both idiots.”
Anna laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
Sophie hated prison visits.
She hated metal detectors.
She hated guards.
She hated that she couldn't bring Captain Bunny inside.
But she loved seeing Dominic.
Every Saturday, they talked.
She brought drawings.
He asked about kindergarten.
Then first grade.
He learned the names of her friends.
Emma liked dinosaurs.
Lily cheated at Candy Land.
Marcus picked his nose.
“Important intelligence,” Dominic said.
Sophie nodded seriously.
After twelve months, Anna visited alone.
Dominic noticed immediately.
“Where's Sophie?”
“With Julian.”
“Julian is babysitting?”
“He's surprisingly good.”
“That concerns me.”
Anna smiled.
Julian had received probation and home confinement due to his long-term cooperation and injuries.
He had thrown himself into rebuilding his life.
Gabriel received eighteen months.
Dominic would likely serve longer than either.
Anna sat across from him.
“There is something we should talk about.”
Dominic leaned back.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“You and me.”
More dangerous.
He looked at her.
“What about us?”
“I don't know.”
“Excellent talk.”
She smiled.
Then became serious.
“I loved you.”
“Past tense?”
“I didn't say that.”
Dominic's chest tightened.
Anna continued.
“But six years happened.”
“Yes.”
“You became someone I don't entirely know.”
“So did you.”
“Yes.”
“And Sophie?”
“She wants us married by Tuesday.”
Dominic laughed.
“That sounds like her.”
“She drew invitations.”
“To whom?”
“Everyone.”
“That's ambitious.”
Anna looked at him.
“I don't want to pretend we can go backward.”
“Neither do I.”
“But maybe…”
She hesitated.
Dominic waited.
“Maybe when you come home, we could start forward.”
Dominic stared.
“Slowly.”
“Yes.”
“With therapy.”
He grimaced.
Anna smiled.
“Lots of therapy.”
“Cruel.”
“You can survive federal prison.”
“Barely.”
“You can survive counseling.”
“That remains unproven.”
She laughed.
Then Dominic reached through the opening beneath the partition.
Anna put her hand over his.
No dramatic promise.
No instant forgiveness.
Just contact.
A beginning.
Outside, Sophie waited in Julian's car.
She had found his phone.
This was unfortunate.
By the time Julian noticed, Sophie had sent fourteen emojis to Gabriel, purchased three cartoon movies, and somehow opened a news article.
She looked at the screen.
A photograph of Victor Sloane.
Headline:
SLOANE TRIAL SET FOR OCTOBER.
Sophie frowned.
“Uncle Julian?”
“Yes?”
“Why is the bad man having a trial?”
“Because that's how courts decide what happens.”
“Will Mommy have to go?”
Julian looked at her.
“Probably.”
“Dad too?”
“Yes.”
Sophie looked worried.
Julian noticed.
“What?”
“What if the bad man hurts them again?”
“He won't.”
“You promise?”
Julian hesitated.
Then nodded.
“I promise.”
But that night, in federal detention, Victor Sloane received an envelope.
No return address.
Inside was one photograph.
Sophie leaving school.
On the back were four words.
YOU FAILED. I WON'T.
Sloane smiled.
Then called his attorney.
Because the war Dominic thought was ending had one final enemy.
Someone who had never appeared in Anna's ledger.
May you like
Someone who believed Victor Sloane had ruined his life.
And Dominic Vale was about to become the target of revenge that didn't belong to him.
