Chapter 9 - The Name Inside the Ledger
Vittorio Russo arrived carrying flowers for Lily.
Norah found that more disturbing than if he had arrived with an army.
From an upstairs window, she watched the older man step out of a black sedan.
Silver hair.
Perfect charcoal suit.
Warm smile.
He looked like someone’s elegant grandfather.
Lily adored him.
That fact made Norah feel physically ill.
Dominic entered the room behind her.
“You stay upstairs.”
“I know.”
“You don’t come down.”
“You’ve repeated that.”
“I’m repeating it again.”
Norah turned.
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m cautious.”
“You’re nervous.”
Dominic adjusted his cuff.
“I don’t get nervous.”
“Sure.”
He almost smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“If anything happens, Mateo takes you, Lily, and your father into the secure wing.”
“My father?”
“For now.”
Dominic turned to leave.
Norah caught his sleeve.
He looked down at her hand.
“Be careful.”
His eyes met hers.
“I always am.”
“That’s not true.”
“No?”
“The scar on your shoulder says otherwise.”
Something moved between them.
Dominic covered her hand briefly with his.
Then he left.
Downstairs, Vittorio embraced Dominic like nothing had changed.
“Where’s my princess?”
“Doing schoolwork.”
“At four?”
“Norah is ambitious.”
Vittorio chuckled.
“And where is the famous nanny?”
“Resting.”
A pause.
“Is she unwell?”
Dominic poured drinks.
“Why?”
“No reason.”
Dominic handed him a glass.
“You brought flowers.”
“For Lily.”
“You never bring flowers.”
“Should I be offended you’ve noticed?”
Dominic sat.
Vittorio studied him.
“You look tired.”
“Busy.”
“I heard there was a security issue.”
“News travels.”
“In this family, everything travels.”
Dominic held his gaze.
“That’s becoming increasingly clear.”
For the first time, Vittorio’s smile weakened.
Upstairs, Norah watched through the security feed.
Mateo stood nearby.
“How does he know Dominic hasn’t found out?” she whispered.
“He doesn’t.”
“So this is a test.”
“Yes.”
“From both sides.”
Mateo nodded.
Downstairs, Vittorio crossed one leg over the other.
“I’ve been concerned about you.”
Dominic laughed once.
“That’s new.”
“You’re distracted.”
“By what?”
“Fatherhood.”
“I’ve been a father for four years.”
Vittorio sipped his drink.
“One child is manageable.”
Dominic became still.
Upstairs, Norah stopped breathing.
Vittorio continued casually.
“Families become complicated as they expand.”
Dominic said nothing.
The older man smiled.
“Did I say something?”
“No.”
“You look surprised.”
“Do I?”
Vittorio placed his glass down.
“I heard a rumor.”
“About?”
“Your nanny.”
Dominic leaned back.
“What rumor?”
“That she has become more than an employee.”
“I’ve heard worse rumors.”
“I imagine.”
Vittorio watched him.
“If the rumor were true, you would tell family.”
“Would I?”
The smile vanished.
“Dominic.”
There it was.
Authority.
The voice of the man who had raised him.
Dominic felt the old instinct to listen.
He killed it.
“My private life is private.”
“Nothing is private when succession is involved.”
Upstairs, Norah whispered, “He said it.”
Mateo nodded.
Dominic stood.
“Interesting word.”
Vittorio realized his mistake.
“Don’t play games.”
“Who told you?”
“I hear things.”
“From my lawyer?”
Silence.
“The clinic?”
Vittorio’s face hardened.
Dominic walked toward him.
“Or the man who entered my house wearing one of my security uniforms?”
Vittorio stood.
“Be careful what you accuse me of.”
“I haven’t accused you of anything.”
“You don’t need to.”
Dominic’s voice lowered.
“Good.”
Vittorio looked toward the ceiling as if he could see Norah through it.
“She is carrying your child.”
Dominic did not respond.
Vittorio smiled coldly.
“That silence confirms it.”
“Leave.”
“Dominic—”
“Leave my house.”
“You are making decisions emotionally.”
“I’m making one very clearly.”
Vittorio stepped closer.
“You think legitimacy will protect your children?”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“You think selling restaurants and apartment buildings turns us into ordinary people?”
“Get out.”
“It doesn’t.”
Dominic called security.
Vittorio shook his head.
“You were stronger before Lily.”
Dominic looked at him.
“No. I was emptier.”
That answer seemed to anger Vittorio more than any threat could have.
Guards entered.
Vittorio walked toward the door.
Then he stopped.
Without turning, he said, “Children give men something to lose.”
Dominic answered quietly.
“They also give them something worth destroying empires for.”
Vittorio left.
Upstairs, Norah sank into a chair.
Mateo immediately began issuing instructions.
Dominic joined them minutes later.
“That went well,” Norah said.
He stared at her.
“Your sarcasm is becoming aggressive.”
“I’m stressed.”
“So am I.”
“Did he admit it?”
“No.”
“He practically announced it.”
“Practically isn’t enough.”
“For what?”
Dominic looked at Mateo.
“For what comes next.”
Norah did not like the sound of that.
That evening, Dominic’s financial team froze access to several accounts tied to Vittorio.
Three executives were suspended.
Two security contractors were removed.
Dominic began dismantling his uncle’s influence without making a single public accusation.
At eleven thirty, Lily woke from a nightmare.
Norah found her crying.
“There were bad men,” Lily whispered.
Norah pulled her close.
“It was a dream.”
“They took Daddy.”
“Daddy’s downstairs.”
“And you?”
“I’m right here.”
Lily looked at Norah’s stomach.
Norah froze.
Children noticed everything.
“Why is your belly bigger?”
Norah smiled weakly.
“I’ve been eating too much pasta.”
Lily looked unconvinced.
Then she placed a small hand against Norah’s stomach.
The baby kicked.
Lily’s eyes became enormous.
Norah held her breath.
“What was that?”
Before Norah could answer, Lily gasped.
“There’s something in you!”
“Lily—”
The child jumped off the bed.
“DADDY!”
Norah caught her just before the door.
“Wait.”
But footsteps were already approaching.
Dominic appeared.
“What happened?”
Lily pointed dramatically at Norah.
“Something kicked me from inside her!”
Dominic looked at Norah.
Norah closed her eyes.
So much for choosing the right moment.
Lily stared between them.
Then her eyes widened with astonishing understanding.
“Is there a baby?”
Silence.
Dominic crouched beside her.
“Yes.”
Lily gasped.
Norah waited for fear.
Confusion.
Jealousy.
Instead Lily screamed with joy.
“A BABY?”
“Indoor voice,” Dominic said automatically.
Lily launched herself at Norah.
“I’m getting a sister!”
Norah looked at Dominic.
He smiled.
For one perfect minute, the house contained no enemies.
Only a little girl dancing because she was going to become a big sister.
Then Mateo appeared in the doorway.
His expression erased the moment.
“Dominic.”
“What?”
“We intercepted a call.”
Dominic straightened.
“From Vittorio?”
Mateo shook his head.
“From someone inside the house.”
May you like
And just like that, they knew the traitor had never left.
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