Chapter 5 - The Secret Dominic’s Father Took to His Grave
The video lasted eleven minutes.
For the first three, there was no sound.
Then the audio suddenly appeared.
Anthony Vale's voice filled the study.
“Vincent, it ends tonight.”
Vincent paced.
“You don't understand what you're doing.”
“I understand exactly what you've done.”
Anthony held up financial records.
“You stole from me.”
“I built half those companies.”
“You stole from my children.”
Vincent stopped.
Evelyn stood between them.
Then Sofia entered.
Dominic whispered her name.
On-screen, Sofia looked furious.
“I copied everything.”
Vincent turned toward her.
“You stupid girl.”
Anthony stepped forward.
“Watch your mouth.”
Sofia held up a folder.
“If anything happens to me, copies go to the authorities.”
Vincent laughed.
But his eyes didn't.
“You think paperwork protects you?”
The video skipped.
Five seconds missing.
Then Vincent was near the door.
Anthony said something we couldn't hear.
Vincent replied:
“By tomorrow, one of your children will understand what consequences mean.”
The video ended.
No confession.
No proof of sabotage.
But enough.
Marcus leaned back.
“Threat.”
Dominic stared at the black screen.
“My father knew.”
“Yes,” I said.
“He knew Vincent threatened us and said nothing.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Anthony was trying to handle it himself.”
“He failed.”
Nobody argued.
Dominic walked out.
I found him in the music room.
He stood beside Sofia's piano.
“You keep finding me,” he said without turning.
“Occupational hazard.”
“You're supposed to clean the east wing today.”
“It can survive.”
He looked at me.
“You should leave.”
My chest tightened.
“The room?”
“The house.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“Because Vincent knows something is happening.”
“So?”
“So this isn't your problem.”
“You made it my problem when you played Sofia's recording.”
“That was a mistake.”
That hurt more than it should have.
I stepped back.
“Right.”
“Rachel.”
“No, you're right.”
I headed toward the door.
He caught my wrist gently.
I stopped.
Dominic immediately released me.
“I didn't mean you were a mistake.”
“Sounded like it.”
“I meant bringing you into this.”
“Why?”
His eyes held mine.
“Because I care what happens to you.”
Everything inside me went quiet.
Dominic seemed almost angry at himself for saying it.
I swallowed.
“You've known me eleven days.”
“Twelve.”
“You counted?”
His jaw tightened.
That was answer enough.
“Dominic…”
“You walk into rooms like you expect them to become happier.”
I didn't know what to say.
“You sing while you clean. You argue with Marcus about coffee. You talk to flowers when you arrange them.”
“They respond better than people.”
“I know.”
A pause.
“And for twelve days, this house hasn't felt dead.”
My eyes burned.
He stepped closer.
“That's why you should leave.”
“No.”
His expression sharpened.
“Rachel.”
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly. You're afraid.”
“I don't get afraid.”
“That's adorable.”
His eyebrows lifted.
I continued.
“You are terrified of losing someone again.”
Silence.
“You think if you send everyone away, nothing can hurt you.”
“Rachel.”
“But that's not living.”
His eyes darkened.
“You know nothing about my life.”
“Then tell me.”
He couldn't.
Or wouldn't.
I nodded.
“That's what I thought.”
I walked away.
I made it to the stairs before he spoke.
“Sofia used to sing when she was nervous.”
I turned.
Dominic remained beside the piano.
“She was terrible.”
I smiled through the ache.
“She thought she was incredible.”
“Sounds familiar.”
“She would stand right there.”
He pointed toward the center of the room.
“Feather duster?”
“Hairbrush.”
“Amateur.”
He laughed.
And suddenly we were both crying.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
Like two people surprised by their own emotions.
Dominic came closer.
His hand lifted toward my face.
Stopped.
Giving me time to move.
I didn't.
His fingers brushed a tear from my cheek.
Then he kissed me.
Soft.
Careful.
Nothing like the frightening man everyone described.
For three seconds, I forgot Vincent.
Sofia.
The recordings.
Everything.
Then the mansion alarm sounded.
Marcus's voice came over the intercom.
“Dominic. Library. Now.”
We ran.
A package had been delivered.
No return address.
Inside was Sofia's missing folder.
And one photograph.
Me.
Taken that morning.
Walking from my apartment to my car.
Dominic's face became ice.
Marcus turned the photograph over.
A message was written on the back.
STOP DIGGING.
OR THE HOUSEKEEPER LEARNS WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO SING TOO LOUD.
Dominic stared at the words.
Then at me.
For the first time since I met him, I saw something in his eyes stronger than anger.
Fear.
That night, security surrounded the mansion.
Dominic insisted I stay in a guest suite.
I refused twice.
Lost twice.
At midnight, I couldn't sleep.
I walked downstairs.
Music drifted through the hallway.
Soft piano.
I followed it.
Dominic sat at Sofia's piano.
One finger touched a key.
Then another.
“You said you stopped listening,” I whispered.
He looked at me.
“I did.”
“What changed?”
“You.”
I sat beside him.
Neither of us mentioned the kiss.
Which made us both extremely aware of the kiss.
Finally I said:
“I don't want to be your weakness.”
His expression shifted.
“You aren't.”
“Vincent thinks I am.”
“Vincent is wrong.”
“What am I?”
Dominic looked at me for a long time.
Then:
“The first person in ten years who made me want tomorrow to arrive.”
I forgot how to breathe.
He reached for my hand.
Before our fingers touched, Marcus appeared.
“Sorry.”
“You should be,” Dominic muttered.
Marcus ignored him.
“We found the original police evidence archive.”
“And?”
“The brake line from Sofia's car was preserved.”
Dominic stood.
“Can it be tested?”
“It already was.”
Marcus handed him a report.
“Fingerprints were recovered ten years ago.”
“Whose?”
Marcus looked disturbed.
“Not Vincent's.”
Dominic read the name.
May you like
Then slowly raised his eyes.
The fingerprints belonged to Daniel Price.
