Chapter 9: The House Where Everything Began
The old Romano house had been abandoned for eight years.
Nobody went there.
Nobody except ghosts.
At least, that was what I believed.
It sat at the edge of the property line, hidden behind trees and iron gates.
The place where I grew up.
The place where my father taught me everything.
Including the things I wished I could forget.
How to intimidate.
How to manipulate.
How to survive.
I drove there alone.
Against every piece of advice I had ever given another person.
Because this wasn't business.
This was my life.
The gate opened before I reached it.
Someone was waiting.
I stepped out of the car.
Gun ready.
“Dominic.””
The voice came from the porch.
Victor Moretti.
My father's closest friend.
The man who taught me how to run an empire.
The man everyone thought disappeared after my father died.
He looked older.
But not weaker.
“Where is she?””
Victor looked toward the house.
“Inside.””
I raised my weapon.
“If this is a trap—”
“It isn't.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
He sighed.
“I expect you to remember.””
The front door opened.
And there she was.
Isabelle.
Alive.
Real.
For one second, everything stopped.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
She looked exactly the same.
But different.
Older.
Tired.
Like someone who had spent fourteen months running from death.
“Dominic.””
My gun lowered.
Not because I trusted the situation.
Because my body recognized my wife before my mind could accept her.
I crossed the distance between us.
Then stopped.
One step away.
Because I was afraid.
Afraid she would disappear.
Afraid she wasn't real.
Afraid I had finally lost my mind.
She touched my face.
“You're real.””
A broken laugh escaped her.
“You always were.””
Then I pulled her into my arms.
And for the first time in fourteen months, I cried.
Not as Dominic Romano.
Not as the man people feared.
Just as a husband who thought he had lost his wife.
When we separated, I looked at her.
“You let me hate myself.””
Her eyes filled.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
“You let our daughters think you were dead.””
“I know.””
“Do you know what that did to them?””
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The pain in her voice was real.
“I heard them cry.””
My anger disappeared.
“What?””
“From a distance.””
She looked toward the house.
“I was there.””
My heart broke.
“You were watching?””
“I had to.””
“Why?””
“Because the person who tried to kill me was still watching them.””
I looked at Victor.
“What does he have to do with this?””
Victor stepped forward.
“Everything.””
I turned.
“Explain.””
He looked ashamed.
“Your father built this organization.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Victor shook his head.
“You know the public version.””
He walked inside.
We followed.
The old house smelled like dust and memories.
On the wall were photographs.
My father.
Me.
Victor.
A family built on violence.
“Your father wasn't betrayed by enemies.””
Victor said.
“He was betrayed by himself.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“He realized too late that the empire he built was destroying his family.””
I looked at Isabelle.
“He wanted out.””
Victor nodded.
“He was planning to disappear.””
“Why didn't he?””
“Because someone stopped him.””
The answer was obvious.
“Who?””
Victor looked at me.
“You.””
I felt the familiar anger rise.
“Again?””
“No.””
Victor stepped closer.
“Not intentionally.””
He handed me a folder.
Inside was a report.
My name.
My signature.
A decision I didn't remember making.
*Authorization of internal removal.*
I looked at the date.
The day before Isabelle was shot.
My hands went cold.
“What is this?””
Isabelle stepped closer.
“That is why I disappeared.””
I looked at her.
“Because you thought I did it?””
“No.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I found out someone had been using your memory against you.””
I stared.
“My memory.””
“Yes.””
She touched the report.
“Dominic, you didn't order my death.””
A pause.
“You ordered someone to be removed.””
“Who?””
Her voice became a whisper.
“The person who knew too much.””
I looked at the signature.
At my own handwriting.
Then I saw the name.
The person I had ordered removed.
The person everyone thought had died years ago.
The person who was never dead.
My father.
I looked at Isabelle.
“This doesn't make sense.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
She took my hand.
And said the words that changed everything.
“Dominic…”
“The man who has been controlling everything from the beginning…”
She looked toward Victor.
“…is not your enemy.””
May you like
A pause.
“He is the person you became.””
