Chapter 11 - The ChoiceEvelyn woke to the smell of gasoline and salt water.
Dominic had visited twice in eight years.
Once on the first anniversary of his father’s death.
Once after marrying Evelyn.
He had never returned.
Tonight, they entered with police-level surveillance equipment, two trusted security teams, and enough tension to electrify the cemetery.
Evelyn remained in the armored vehicle.
She hated it.
But after nearly forty-eight hours of danger and very little sleep, nausea had become dizziness.
Dominic refused to risk her falling.
This time she agreed.
Marco and Dominic entered the mausoleum together.
Camille monitored cameras beside Evelyn.
Antonio’s crypt stood behind black marble.
Marco examined the seal.
“It’s been opened.”
“Recently?” Dominic asked.
“Looks like it.”
They removed the panel.
Inside, Antonio’s coffin rested beneath a layer of dust disturbed by fingerprints.
Dominic stared at it.
“You okay?” Marco asked.
“No.”
“Good. Me neither.”
Together, they opened the outer compartment beneath the coffin.
A metal box was taped underneath.
Inside was an old digital recorder.
Dominic pressed play.
Static.
Then Antonio Vale’s voice filled the mausoleum.
“If Dominic hears this, I failed.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“If Thomas hears this, then Isabella failed.”
Marco’s face tightened.
Antonio continued.
“I have committed sins no priest can forgive and no courtroom can fully punish. But there is one crime I did not commit.”
Pause.
“My death will not be natural.”
Evelyn felt goosebumps rise.
Antonio named Samuel Crowe.
He explained that Samuel had been moving money through shell companies with Vincent Moretti and several corrupt captains.
When Antonio discovered it, he threatened to expose them.
Samuel responded by threatening Thomas.
Antonio hid his eldest son permanently under the identity Marco Russo.
Then came the revelation.
“Adrian believes I distrust him. I do. But Adrian is not the man trying to kill me.”
Dominic and Marco exchanged looks.
“Samuel has prepared poison through my cardiologist. If I die suddenly, the doctor will certify cardiac arrest.”
Evelyn whispered, “Oh my God.”
The recording continued.
“Dominic will inherit publicly. Thomas will remain hidden. This is the only way both sons survive.”
Marco’s eyes filled.
Antonio’s voice softened.
“If either of you ever hears this, understand something I was too proud to say while alive.”
Silence.
“I loved you both.”
Dominic looked away.
Marco wiped his face roughly.
“I was not a good father. Perhaps love from a bad man is only another kind of wound.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
Then Antonio delivered the final warning.
“Samuel’s greatest weapon is not money.”
Static cracked.
“It is patience.”
The recording ended.
Dominic stood in silence.
Then a voice behind them said, “My father always hated that recording.”
Daniel Crowe emerged from the darkness.
He held a gun.
Two armed men stood beside him.
Marco slowly raised his hands.
“How long have you known?”
Daniel smiled.
“Since I was eighteen.”
“You killed Antonio?” Dominic asked.
“My father arranged it.”
“And Natalie?”
“I did.”
Evelyn heard Camille inhale beside her.
Daniel continued.
“Vincent was becoming sentimental. Natalie discovered too much.”
“You killed your own cousin?” Marco asked.
Daniel shrugged.
“Collateral damage.”
Dominic’s expression turned murderous.
Daniel smiled.
“There he is. Antonio’s real son.”
“Why expose Marco now?”
“Because you’ve ruined everything.”
“How?”
“You made the organization legitimate.”
Dominic almost laughed.
“That offended you?”
“It impoverished us.”
Daniel’s family had profited from criminal operations.
When Dominic dismantled them, the money disappeared.
Samuel died furious.
Daniel inherited the resentment.
“So you wanted Marco as boss,” Dominic said.
“Thomas.”
“My name is Marco,” Marco replied.
“You could have restored everything.”
“I would have burned it down faster than Dominic.”
Daniel’s smile vanished.
“That is the disappointing part.”
He gestured with the gun.
“Give me the archive.”
Dominic shook his head.
“No.”
“I’ll kill Marco.”
“No, you won’t.”
Daniel aimed at Marco.
Dominic remained still.
Daniel’s expression changed.
Then Dominic said, “Because you need him alive to legitimize your takeover.”
Daniel smiled again.
“Smart.”
Marco suddenly moved.
Gunfire exploded.
Evelyn screamed.
Camera feed shook.
One of Daniel’s men fell.
Dominic tackled the other.
Marco struck Daniel.
The gun skidded across marble.
For five brutal seconds, nobody could see clearly.
Then silence.
“Dominic?” Evelyn shouted through communications.
No answer.
“Marco?”
Static.
Camille gripped Evelyn’s hand.
Then Dominic appeared on camera.
Alive.
Blood ran down his cheek.
Marco was alive too.
Daniel lay against the wall, breathing heavily.
Security rushed in.
Evelyn nearly collapsed with relief.
Then Daniel started laughing.
Dominic stared at him.
“What’s funny?”
“You think this was about the archive.”
Dominic froze.
Daniel smiled.
“It was never here.”
“What?”
“I needed you away from her.”
Evelyn’s blood turned cold.
Dominic’s face changed.
“Evelyn.”
The van doors exploded open.
Camille screamed.
Three masked men appeared.
Evelyn grabbed for the emergency weapon Marco had shown her.
Too late.
A cloth covered her mouth.
Someone pulled her backward.
May you like
The world blurred.
The last thing she heard before darkness took her was Dominic shouting her name through the radio.
