Chapter 6 - The Room Beneath the ChapelDominic fired once.
The muzzle flash lit the room.
Nothing.
“Stay behind me.”
Norah grabbed his sleeve.
“The door!”
He slammed his shoulder into it.
Steel.
Solid.
He tried again.
Nothing.
A ventilation fan kicked on.
Cold air rushed through the room.
Victor's voice came through hidden speakers.
“You always were impatient, Dominic.”
“Show yourself.”
“Why? You spent twenty-six years searching for a ghost.”
Dominic looked at the ceiling.
“Where is Rosa?”
Victor laughed quietly.
“Still asking the wrong question.”
Norah shouted.
“You called me his daughter.”
“I called you the reason your father died twenty-six years ago.”
Dominic froze.
“What?”
Victor continued.
“Not literally, of course.”
“You wanted me dead.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you found the accounts.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“What accounts?”
“The ones Rosa copied.”
Norah looked around.
There was a small metal grate near the floor.
She crouched.
A thin wire ran through it.
She pulled.
The speakers crackled.
Victor's voice distorted.
Dominic looked at her.
“What did you do?”
“Interrupted his microphone.”
She smiled faintly.
“I had an anatomy professor who loved showing us how little nerves it takes to ruin someone's balance.”
Dominic almost laughed.
The first sound of warmth between them.
Then the door unlocked.
It opened three inches.
Dominic kicked it wide.
The corridor beyond was empty.
But there was blood on the floor.
Fresh.
They followed it.
It ended beside a stone staircase leading upward.
At the top stood Frank.
He was holding a gun.
Dominic aimed immediately.
“Drop it.”
Frank didn't move.
“I didn't shoot you.”
“Then explain the blood.”
Frank looked at Norah.
“Your grandmother.”
Norah's stomach dropped.
“Where is she?”
Frank lowered the gun.
“Alive.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“You work for Victor.”
“I used to.”
“Used to?”
“Twenty-six years ago, Victor gave me one order.”
“What order?”
“Kill the baby.”
Norah went still.
Frank continued.
“I couldn't.”
Dominic stared.
“You knew.”
“I knew Rosa escaped.”
“With my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“You let them go.”
“Yes.”
Dominic lowered his weapon.
“Where are they?”
Frank hesitated.
“Rosa left the baby with someone she trusted.”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
Norah looked at Salvatore.
“That makes no sense.”
Frank shook his head.
“Not here.”
He pointed toward the chapel.
“The old chapel beneath the west wing.”
They followed him.
The chapel had been abandoned for years.
Dust covered the pews.
A cracked statue stood beside the altar.
Frank pressed the base.
A hidden panel opened.
Behind it was a narrow room.
Inside sat an elderly woman.
Silver hair.
Thin hands.
A blanket around her shoulders.
Norah stopped.
Her heart recognized her before her mind did.
“Grandma?”
The woman slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes widened.
“Nora.”
Norah ran to her.
Rosa cried into her shoulder.
“My baby.”
Dominic stood in the doorway.
Rosa looked past Norah.
Straight at him.
“Dominic.”
He looked like a child for the first time.
He approached slowly.
“Mother.”
Rosa reached for his face.
“I'm sorry.”
Dominic knelt.
“Why did you leave me?”
“Because they told me you would kill her.”
“Who?”
Rosa looked at Frank.
Then at Salvatore.
Then at Dominic.
“Victor.”
Dominic's fists tightened.
Rosa whispered:
“But there was another person helping him.”
Norah looked up.
“Who?”
Rosa stared at her.
“The person sleeping in this mansion every night.”
A loud click echoed from the doorway.
Frank turned.
His face changed.
He looked at the empty hallway.
“Get down!”
Gunfire tore through the chapel doors.
May you like
And Rosa screamed one name.
“Vittorio!”
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