Chapter 13 - The Bodyguard Who Knew Too MuchDominic didn't believe the accusation at first.
Victor Hale had protected him for twelve years.
He had accompanied Dominic through assassinations, betrayals, and countless nights when enemies waited outside the family estate.
He had saved Dominic's life more than once.
But when Michael placed the photograph on the table, Dominic didn't dismiss it.
He examined the circled face.
“Where did you get this?”
“From a financial report I found in Carlo's records.”
“What does it prove?”
“Nothing by itself. But Victor authorized the payments that maintained Hawthorne Farmhouse. He also approved the investigation that falsely identified me as a thief.”
Dominic remained silent.
Then he called Bruno.
“Find Victor.”
“Where should we start?”
“Everywhere.”
The search lasted six hours.
Victor's apartment was empty.
His bank accounts had been closed.
His private vehicle was discovered abandoned near the Hudson River.
And every phone number associated with him had gone dead.
Then, at 4:17 in the afternoon, Dominic received a message.
A photograph of Rosie.
She was sitting beside Isabella in the townhouse living room, drawing Christmas trees.
Beneath the photograph were six words.
A child is easy to take.
I saw Dominic read the message.
His face changed completely.
“Where's Rosie?”
“With Isabella,” I answered.
We ran upstairs.
The living room was empty.
A cup of hot chocolate sat on the table. Rosie's crayons lay scattered across the carpet.
The Christmas tree was still lit.
But Isabella was gone.
So was Rosie.
For one terrifying second, I couldn't breathe.
Then I screamed my daughter's name.
Dominic seized his phone.
“Lock down every exit. Check the cameras. Nobody leaves this property.”
Bruno rushed inside.
“Boss, the front gate camera was disabled eight minutes ago.”
“By whom?”
Bruno looked at the screen.
“Victor Hale.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
For twelve years, Victor had stood at his shoulder.
Now he had taken a child.
My child.
I grabbed Dominic's arm.
“Find her.”
“We will.”
“No. Don't tell me what you're going to do. Find my daughter!”
My voice echoed through the hallway.
Dominic met my eyes.
“You have my word.”
I stepped away from him.
“Your word didn't protect my husband. It didn't protect your mother. It didn't protect Rosie.”
He absorbed the accusation without speaking.
Then he removed his expensive watch and placed it on the table.
“Bruno, I want every vehicle, every camera, every contact Victor has used in the past year. Check the airports, the private docks, and every property we own.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Start with the places he thinks I would never search.”
Dominic turned to Michael.
“Do you have any idea what Victor wants?”
Michael looked at the photograph again.
“Control. Money. He believed Carlo would take over the organization and reward him for his loyalty. When Carlo failed, Victor needed another way to protect himself.”
“And Rosie?”
“He thinks she gives him leverage over you.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
Michael continued.
“But there's something else. Victor knows where the ledger is hidden. He may believe Rosie knows something about it, too.”
I stared at him.
“She's six years old!”
“I know.”
Dominic turned away, his hands clenched at his sides.
For the first time, I saw the fear beneath his anger.
Victor knew every secret entrance to the Moretti properties.
He knew every trusted guard, every security code, every place Dominic considered safe.
And now he had my daughter.
A message arrived on Dominic's phone.
It contained a location and a deadline.
Old Pier 19. Midnight. Come alone, or the girl disappears forever.
Dominic read it.
Then he handed the phone to Bruno.
“Prepare the cars.”
I stepped in front of him.
“He said come alone.”
Dominic looked at me.
“I know.”
“Then we're not going to do what he expects.”
For the first time all day, he listened without interrupting.
I studied the map on the screen.
Then I noticed a small detail.
The address wasn't for Pier 19.
It was for a closed bakery warehouse three blocks away.
Novak's Bakery had delivered bread to that building for years.
May you like
And I knew exactly where the old loading entrance was.
“Dominic,” I whispered, “I think I know how we're getting Rosie back.”
