Chapter 3 - The Man Who Stole Twenty Years
Joseph wanted us moved immediately.
Mom refused.
“I’m not running again.”
“This isn’t running,” Joseph said. “It’s protection.”
“You always called it protection.”
“And tonight it actually is.”
I stepped between them.
“What happens if we stay?”
Joseph answered immediately.
“I put men outside.”
“And if we leave?”
“You come somewhere secure.”
“Your house?”
“Yes.”
Mom laughed without humor.
“Twenty years later and you’re still impossible.”
Joseph looked at her.
“Twenty years later and you’re still arguing while someone is threatening you.”
Eventually, she agreed.
Joseph’s estate outside Chicago looked less like a home than a private fortress.
But once inside, something strange happened.
The terrifying Joseph Salvini disappeared.
He walked me through hallways filled with old photographs.
He showed me his mother.
His father.
Then he stopped beside one picture.
“That’s Dominic.”
The man beside a younger Joseph looked charming.
Too charming.
“Your uncle?”
“My father’s younger brother.”
“And he made Mom disappear?”
“That’s what I intend to discover.”
“You mean ask.”
Joseph looked at me.
“Yes.”
“Not hurt.”
A pause.
“Yes.”
“That pause was suspicious.”
Mom covered a smile.
Joseph sighed.
“I’ve known you less than six hours.”
“And?”
“I’m already losing arguments.”
His lieutenant entered.
“Dominic’s here.”
The warmth vanished.
Dominic Salvini walked into the room five minutes later.
He was older now, silver-haired and elegant.
He saw Mom.
His smile disappeared.
“Well.”
Joseph stood.
“You recognize her.”
Dominic recovered quickly.
“Of course.”
“Tell Audrey what you did.”
Dominic looked at me.
“So it’s true.”
“Answer him,” Mom said.
Dominic slowly removed his coat.
“I protected this family.”
Joseph stepped closer.
“You told Rose her child would be killed.”
“I told her the truth.”
“You told her to lie about a miscarriage.”
“Yes.”
My stomach turned.
Joseph’s jaw flexed.
“Why?”
“Because you were weak around her.”
Joseph became very still.
Dominic continued.
“You were inheriting an organization. You had enemies everywhere. Then suddenly you wanted to leave Chicago and start over because some girl was pregnant.”
Mom stared at Joseph.
“You were going to leave?”
“I had bought a house.”
Her eyes widened.
“Where?”
“Wisconsin.”
Dominic laughed.
“The great Joseph Salvini selling everything to play husband in Wisconsin.”
Joseph didn’t look away from Mom.
“I never told you because I wanted it to be a surprise.”
She whispered, “I thought you chose the family.”
“I chose you.”
That hurt more than any betrayal.
Because they had both spent twenty years believing the opposite.
I faced Dominic.
“You destroyed both their lives.”
“I saved yours.”
“No. My mother saved mine.”
His expression cooled.
“You should be careful speaking to me like that.”
Joseph moved between us.
“Never threaten her.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
“There he is.”
Joseph’s voice remained calm.
“If anything happens to Audrey or Rose, you will answer for it.”
Dominic looked toward the window.
“You think I posted that photograph?”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Dominic hesitated.
That was enough.
Joseph noticed.
“Who?”
“There are people who remember Rose.”
Mom stiffened.
“Who?”
Dominic exhaled.
“Carlo Ventresca.”
Joseph cursed under his breath.
“Who is Carlo?” I asked.
“A man who spent twenty years waiting for something he could use against me.”
“And now that something is me?”
Joseph looked at me.
“Yes.”
I crossed my arms.
“Great. Nice family reunion.”
Dominic walked toward the door.
Joseph stopped him.
“You’re not leaving.”
Dominic looked back.
“Excuse me?”
“You created this.”
“I warned you.”
“No. You manipulated Rose, stole my daughter’s childhood from me, and spent twenty years pretending you were loyal.”
Dominic’s expression hardened.
Joseph pointed toward his lieutenant.
“Take him to the guest wing. He stays there until this is finished.”
Dominic laughed.
“You’d imprison your own uncle?”
Joseph looked at me.
Then at Rose.
“My definition of family changed tonight.”
Later, I found Joseph alone on the terrace.
He was staring at the constellation tattoo.
I stood beside him.
“Why stars?”
He smiled faintly.
“Your mother loved astronomy.”
“She still does.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“She used to drag me onto rooftops at midnight.”
I laughed.
“That sounds like Mom.”
He looked at me.
“Audrey?”
“Yeah?”
“If the test says I’m your father…”
“You want a DNA test?”
“I need certainty.”
“So do I.”
He nodded.
Then his phone rang.
His lieutenant spoke urgently on the other end.
Joseph’s face changed.
“What happened?”
He hung up.
“Carlo’s men found the house.”
“Our house?”
“Yes.”
“Mom’s things—”
“They didn’t take anything.”
“What did they do?”
Joseph looked directly at me.
“They left a message.”
“What message?”
His jaw tightened.
May you like
“Tell Salvini his daughter belongs to Chicago now.”
---
