Chapter 4 - The giant limped closer.Dominic's gun remained aimed at his chest.
“Stay where you are.”
The giant stopped.
Rain ran down his face.
He looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not even afraid.
Sadie stared at him.
“You know my father?”
“Yes.”
“What was his name?”
The giant hesitated.
“Daniel Bennett.”
Sadie's knees weakened.
Dominic moved beside her.
“How do you know Daniel?”
The giant looked at Dominic.
“Because your father ordered me to kill him.”
Sadie looked at Dominic.
“What?”
The giant continued.
“He refused.”
Dominic's expression tightened.
“You were one of my father's men.”
“I was.”
“Then why protect her?”
“Because Daniel saved my life.”
The giant reached inside his coat.
Dominic raised the revolver.
“Slowly.”
The giant pulled out a small metal box.
He tossed it onto the pavement.
Sadie looked down.
Her name was engraved on it.
SADIE BENNETT
She picked it up.
Inside was a key.
And a handwritten note.
The handwriting looked familiar.
She had seen it on birthday cards as a child.
Her father's handwriting.
Her fingers began shaking.
She unfolded the note.
If Sadie ever finds this, tell her I was not running from her. I was running to save her.
She looked up.
“There's more.”
The giant nodded.
“Your father wanted me to give you the box on your twenty-second birthday.”
“Why didn't you?”
“I was in prison.”
Sadie stared.
“For twenty-two years?”
“No.”
“Then why wait?”
The giant looked at Dominic.
“Because Dominic Russo had to be alive.”
Dominic's voice turned cold.
“You're saying I was part of the plan?”
“You were the last piece.”
Sadie felt trapped inside a nightmare.
“What plan?”
The giant said nothing.
Elena emerged from the burning building.
Smoke curled behind her.
“Tell her.”
He looked at Elena.
“You tell her.”
Elena shook her head.
“No. Dominic should.”
Dominic looked between them.
Then he finally spoke.
“Twenty-seven years ago, three families controlled Philadelphia.”
He counted them silently.
“The Russos. The Bellantes. And the Vosses.”
“Daniel Bennett wasn't part of any family.”
“He was trusted by all three.”
“What happened?”
Dominic took a breath.
“My father ordered a massacre.”
Sadie froze.
“Why?”
“Because someone stole money.”
“Who?”
Dominic looked at Elena.
“The thief was never found.”
Elena whispered.
“Because there was no thief.”
Sadie stared.
“Then where did the money go?”
Elena pointed toward Dominic.
“Into a bank account.”
Dominic frowned.
“What?”
“A secret account opened in your name.”
Silence.
“That is impossible.”
Elena pulled out a document.
“Your identity was used when you were seventeen.”
Dominic took it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Account number.
Signature.
Date.
Then he stopped.
The signature was his.
But he had never opened the account.
“Who did this?”
Elena whispered:
“Your father.”
Dominic looked up.
“Why?”
The giant stepped forward.
“Because the account wasn't for you.”
Sadie stared at him.
“Who was it for?”
The giant looked directly at her.
“It was for your twin.”
The world seemed to tilt.
Sadie dropped the box.
“My what?”
“You were born with a twin brother.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“That's impossible.”
“No.”
The giant nodded.
“He survived.”
Sadie whispered:
“Where is he?”
May you like
The giant's answer came quietly.
“He's the man who ordered me to kill Dominic.”
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