Chapter 8
Vincent returned to the estate with murder inside him.
He recognized it.
That mattered.
Years earlier, recognition would not have stopped anything.
Today it did.
Dominic sat where Vincent left him.
He looked exhausted.
Vincent entered.
Placed Sofia’s photograph with Nico on the table.
Dominic stared.
“You found him.”
“Yes.”
Dominic laughed once.
“Then Matteo knows.”
“Probably.”
Vincent sat.
“Nico says you were with Sofia the night she died.”
Dominic’s face emptied.
Silence.
“Were you?”
“Yes.”
Vincent felt every muscle tighten.
“Why?”
“She called me.”
“For?”
“She knew I was meeting Matteo.”
“Before she died.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought she was bluffing.”
“What happened?”
Dominic looked at the photograph.
“She asked me to drive with her.”
“Where?”
“Old ridge road.”
“The road where she died.”
“Yes.”
Vincent’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“What happened in that car?”
“We argued.”
“About Matteo.”
“Yes.”
“Did you touch her?”
“No.”
“Threaten her?”
“No.”
“Did you leave?”
Dominic’s eyes lowered.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“At a gas station.”
Vincent frowned.
“Twenty miles before the ridge.”
“Yes.”
“Then how are you responsible?”
Dominic swallowed.
“I called Matteo.”
There.
The betrayal.
“What did you tell him?”
“Where she was going.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Why?”
“He told me Sofia was taking Leo away.”
Vincent looked up.
“She never planned that.”
“I know now.”
“You believed him.”
“I wanted to.”
Again.
Wanting.
The easiest doorway.
Dominic continued.
“He said Sofia had arranged to disappear with Nico.”
“Did you believe she was sleeping with him?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“I believed she wanted to expose Matteo.”
“That part was true.”
“Yes.”
“So you gave him her route.”
Dominic nodded.
Vincent stood.
Dominic’s face went pale.
“Vincent.”
He grabbed Dominic by the collar.
For one second, that was enough.
Then Leo’s crouch flashed through his mind.
Predictable anger.
Raised hand.
Fear.
Vincent released him.
Dominic stared.
That frightened him more.
“What happened after you called?”
“Matteo said he would talk to her.”
“And?”
“I went home.”
“You left Sofia alone.”
“Yes.”
“Did Matteo drive her off the road?”
“I don’t know.”
“Nico says no.”
Dominic looked surprised.
“Then who?”
Vincent leaned closer.
“Who else knew?”
Dominic thought.
“Gabriel.”
Sofia’s supposedly dead brother.
“Nico says Gabriel tried to save her.”
Dominic went pale.
“He told me Gabriel worked with Matteo.”
“He did.”
“For why?”
“Maybe infiltration. Maybe revenge. Maybe both.”
Dominic looked toward the floor.
“What happened to Sofia?”
Vincent stared.
“You don’t get to ask like a stranger.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“I know.”
Vincent continued.
“Why did you start frightening Leo?”
Dominic’s voice broke slightly.
“Matteo told me Sofia’s death happened because she made Leo weak.”
Vincent almost laughed.
“What does that even mean?”
“He said she taught the boy affection instead of obedience.”
“He was one.”
“I know.”
“Then you believed a dead woman needed correcting through a toddler.”
Dominic’s face twisted.
“It sounds insane when you say it.”
“It was insane before I said it.”
Silence.
Vincent looked at his cousin.
“Did you ever want to hurt Leo?”
Dominic answered too quickly.
“No.”
Vincent’s expression hardened.
“You still did.”
“Yes.”
That mattered.
Dominic was not redeemed by regret.
He was only finally accurate.
“What did Matteo promise?”
“After Leo learned the cues, he would stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Coming near him.”
Vincent laughed.
“Did you believe that too?”
Dominic’s eyes filled with shame.
“Yes.”
Vincent turned toward the door.
“Where does Matteo meet you?”
“Different places.”
“Most recent.”
“Old Moretti theater.”
“Tonight?”
Dominic hesitated.
Vincent looked back.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“What time?”
“Midnight.”
“Why?”
“He said the family was ready for the second lesson.”
Vincent stopped.
“What is that?”
Dominic went white.
“I don’t know.”
Vincent crossed back.
“Think.”
Dominic’s breathing became rough.
“First lesson is fear.”
“And second?”
“I never reached it when he trained me.”
“Who did?”
“Nico.”
Vincent stared.
“What happened?”
May you like
Dominic whispered:
“He disappeared the next day.”
