Chapter 14 - The Fourth DaughterNobody spoke.
The room seemed to disappear.
Dominic stared at the screen.
The fourth child sat on a bed in the Italian estate.
Same dark eyes.
Same brown hair.
Same tiny birthmark beneath the left ear.
Nora's birthmark.
Dominic turned toward Isabelle.
“Explain.”
Isabelle was crying.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“When?”
“When it was safe.”
“There was never a safe time.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then make me understand.”
She wiped her tears.
“Nora was born with a twin sister.”
Dominic stared.
“I was there.”
“Yes.”
“You told me she died.”
“She was taken.”
“By whom?”
“Eleanor.”
Dominic's blood ran cold.
“She said the fourth child belonged to the network.”
“Why?”
“Because one of the children was genetically connected to the original founder.”
Dominic looked at Nora.
“What does that mean?”
“She carried the marker they believed would let them claim the inheritance.”
Dominic almost laughed.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“So they took our daughter.”
“Yes.”
“And raised her?”
“Not normally.”
Isabelle looked at the screen.
“They trained her to recognize symbols, names, accounts.”
Dominic stared.
That was why the girls knew things.
That was why Nora pointed to hidden places.
She had been taught to remember.
Then the screen changed.
The fourth girl looked into the camera.
She spoke one sentence.
“Daddy, Mommy said you would come.”
Dominic's eyes filled.
“Where is she?”
Alessandro answered:
“Alive.”
“Bring her here.”
“You're not in a position to make demands.”
Dominic stepped toward him.
“You need me.”
Alessandro smiled.
“Perhaps.”
Then he raised the remote.
Every screen went black.
The vault doors opened.
Police sirens could be heard outside.
Dominic looked at Evelyn.
“How?”
She listened.
“Federal agents.”
Dominic froze.
“Who called them?”
Evelyn's phone rang.
She answered.
Then handed it to him.
A man's voice spoke.
“Mr. Romano.”
“Who is this?”
“The prosecutor who has been investigating your organization for three years.”
Dominic's face tightened.
“You have the wrong man.”
“No.”
The voice paused.
“We have the right man. But we also have evidence that someone framed you.”
Dominic looked at Isabelle.
“Can you prove it?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Come outside.”
Dominic looked at Alessandro.
He had disappeared.
Only the burning ledger remained.
They emerged into the courtyard.
Dozens of federal agents surrounded the mansion.
A prosecutor approached.
He handed Dominic a folder.
Inside were bank transfers, forged signatures, photographs, and surveillance reports.
Every piece of evidence had one signature attached.
Thomas Reed.
Dominic's chief of security.
The man Vincent had shot.
The prosecutor said:
“Thomas Reed was the operational link.”
“But who commanded him?”
The prosecutor looked at Isabelle.
She answered.
“We know.”
Dominic turned.
Isabelle looked toward the road.
A black sedan was parked beyond the gates.
A woman stepped out.
Lucia.
Alive.
She removed her sunglasses.
Then she walked toward them.
Dominic's mouth fell open.
“Mom?”
Lucia stopped several feet away.
“I never wanted this life for you.”
Dominic's voice hardened.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about the fourth daughter?”
Lucia nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Eleanor would have killed all four girls.”
Dominic stared.
Then Lucia whispered:
“She is waiting for us.”
“Who?”
Lucia looked at Isabelle.
Then at Dominic.
“The woman who gave birth to the first Romano.”
Dominic froze.
“That woman died decades ago.”
Lucia shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward the black sedan.
“She has been waiting for her family to come home.”
The rear door opened.
Inside sat the fourth girl.
May you like
And beside her was Eleanor.
Alive.
