Chapter 3
Nico called Dominic himself.
No accusation.
No warning.
“Come downstairs.”
Dominic arrived six minutes later.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
Perfectly dressed.
He had been in Nico’s library reviewing contracts when summoned.
He stepped into the garage and stopped.
One glance took in everything.
Gavin’s bruised face.
Sabrina beside the damaged detailing shelf.
Marjorie on the bench.
Sienna protecting her belly.
The missing half of Mila’s hair.
Dominic’s eyes changed.
Only for a moment.
Nico saw it.
He held out one hand.
“Phone.”
Dominic handed it over without argument.
That almost made it worse.
Sienna watched him.
“You got my email?”
Dominic looked at her.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Yesterday morning.”
Her breath left slowly.
“Did you tell Gavin?”
Dominic’s eyes moved toward Nico.
Wrong person.
Wrong reaction.
Nico’s fingers closed around the phone.
“Look at her.”
Dominic did.
Sienna’s voice became quieter.
“Did you tell my husband?”
Dominic waited too long.
Gavin spoke.
“You don't have to answer this.”
Nico turned toward him.
Gavin stopped.
Dominic exhaled.
“Yes.”
Sienna’s face changed.
Not shock.
Recognition.
As if some part of her had already suspected the leak.
Nico said nothing.
The silence dragged.
Dominic finally continued.
“I warned him there were questions.”
“Why?”
“I wanted him to explain before this became a family war.”
Nico’s jaw tightened.
“You warned the man being investigated.”
“I warned your son-in-law.”
“That is not an answer.”
Dominic’s hands remained at his sides.
But his thumb rubbed once against his wedding band.
Nico knew that habit.
Stress.
Dominic said:
“The accounts are complicated.”
Sienna’s eyes sharpened.
“They aren’t.”
Dominic looked at her.
“You found numbers. You don't know why they exist.”
She reached toward the SUV hood where her accountant’s printed summary had been placed.
“Then explain six point three million dollars moving through three vendors with no employees.”
Gavin looked toward Marjorie.
Nico saw it.
Sienna saw it too.
Dominic did not.
That was interesting.
Nico looked at the report.
Three entities.
Cole Strategic Services.
Hartwell Domestic Partners.
North Meridian Logistics.
Two traced to Gavin.
One to Sabrina.
Marjorie’s name appeared nowhere.
Nico asked:
“Where did the money go?”
Dominic remained silent.
Sienna’s hand trembled.
“Tell him.”
Dominic looked at Nico.
“For years you refused certain off-book support requests.”
Nico’s expression hardened.
“What does that have to do with my daughter?”
“Everything.”
Dominic’s voice lowered.
“Because Gavin didn't create those accounts.”
Sienna went still.
Gavin stopped breathing.
Dominic continued.
“I did.”
May you like
Nico’s eyes became completely still.
The man closest to him had just placed himself inside the scheme.
