Chapter 4
Dominic did not apologize.
That angered Nico more than fear would have.
He stood beneath the fluorescent garage lights as if admitting to a minor accounting choice.
“I created the first vendor eight years ago.”
Nico stared at him.
“Behind my back.”
“Yes.”
“Using my companies.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dominic’s face tightened.
“Because men were getting hurt and their families were waiting weeks for approvals.”
Nico’s voice stayed low.
“That system existed for a reason.”
“That system was you.”
The words landed.
No one moved.
Dominic continued.
“If you liked a man, his family got help immediately. If you thought he’d been careless, they waited.”
Nico’s hands remained still.
His eyes did not.
Dominic had known him too long to be intimidated by the first layer of anger.
“You wanted discipline,” Dominic said. “I wanted widows to pay rent.”
Nico looked away for one second.
That was enough for Sienna to understand something.
There was truth inside the betrayal.
Not enough to excuse it.
Enough to complicate it.
Dominic created a hidden support channel.
At first, every dollar went to medical bills, rent assistance, relocation costs and funeral expenses.
Then Gavin discovered it five years later while reviewing estate vendors.
Instead of exposing Dominic, he offered to help manage it.
Dominic accepted.
That was the mistake.
Within eighteen months, vendor expenses doubled.
Sabrina’s company appeared.
Gavin began authorizing additional “family hardship” payments.
Dominic claimed he did not know where all of them went.
Sienna opened another folder.
“I do.”
Everyone looked at her.
She slid three pages across the SUV hood.
Mortgage payments.
Business loans.
Luxury credit balances.
All connected to Marjorie.
Marjorie’s posture changed.
Only slightly.
Sienna’s eyes remained on her.
“Your son wasn’t supporting widows.”
She touched one transaction.
“He paid your country-club debt.”
Another.
“Your investment loss.”
Another.
“Sabrina’s boutique lease.”
Sabrina’s lips parted.
No answer.
Gavin stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Nico turned.
Gavin stopped again.
Marjorie finally lost her composure.
“You have no idea what this family cost us.”
Sienna looked at her.
“What did it cost you?”
Marjorie’s eyes filled with old anger.
“Your father destroyed my husband.”
Nico’s expression changed.
Marjorie saw it.
She leaned forward.
“You never told her?”
Sienna slowly looked at Nico.
His breathing became deeper.
Marjorie’s voice sharpened.
“Of course not.”
A bitter smile.
“He prefers everyone else’s secrets.”
Sienna’s eyes stayed on her father.
“What is she talking about?”
Nico did not answer immediately.
May you like
And that pause shifted the power in the garage again.
Because for the first time, the Coles were not the only family hiding something.
