Chapter 5 - The Child's Drawing
Raymond stared at the photograph as if it were a venomous snake.
"I... I found it in her belongings," Raymond stammered. "Six months ago. I swear to God, Dominic. I didn't know."
Dominic's breathing became shallow, heavy.
The man Victoria was kissing in the photo was Antonio Rossi. The rival boss who had ordered the hit on Vincent Romano seven years ago.
"She set him up," Dominic whispered to himself. The realization hit him like a physical blow. "She was sleeping with Antonio. She gave him Vincent's location that night."
The tragedy of the Romano family had always been the central lore of the estate. Vincent died in a restaurant parking lot. Nobody knew how the Rossis knew he would be there.
Now, the answer was staring Dominic in the face.
Victoria.
She had sold out her own child's father.
"Take him away," Dominic ordered, waving a dismissive hand at Raymond.
Once the room was cleared of the traitors, Dominic turned to the remaining guests.
"This engagement party is over," he said quietly. "Please go home."
Within ten minutes, the grand mansion was empty, save for the guards, Dominic, myself, and Margaret.
I was quietly clearing the dirty plates from the table, my hands trembling.
Margaret sat in her chair, drinking a cup of hot tea I had brought her.
Dominic was pouring himself three fingers of scotch at the mahogany bar.
"You can go home, Sophie," Dominic said without looking at me.
"My shift doesn't end until midnight, Mr. Romano," I said quietly.
He turned, the heavy crystal glass in his hand.
"You stood up for Margaret," he said softly. "You risked your job for a stranger."
"She wasn't a stranger, sir," I replied. "She was an elderly woman who needed a chair. It was just human decency."
Margaret smiled warmly at me.
"You have a good heart, Sophie. Just like your mother."
I froze, the stack of plates slipping slightly in my grip.
Dominic frowned, looking between Margaret and me.
"You know her mother?" Dominic asked.
Margaret took a sip of her tea.
"I knew her very well. Sarah Bennett was one of the finest social workers in Chicago."
My eyes filled with sudden tears. My mother had died of cancer when I was nineteen. I missed her every single day.
Before I could speak, Marco rushed back into the dining room.
He looked panicked. A seasoned mafia enforcer, and he looked terrified.
"Boss," Marco panted. "The team got to the boarding school in Connecticut."
Dominic set his glass down so hard it nearly shattered.
"Do they have Leo?"
Marco shook his head.
"The school says Leo was checked out three days ago. By his mother."
Dominic stared at Marco. "Victoria was here three days ago."
"I know, Boss," Marco said. "But the principal said a woman matching Victoria's description picked him up. And there's something else."
Marco pulled a piece of folded paper from his jacket.
"The team searched Leo's dorm room. They found this taped to the bottom of his desk."
Dominic took the paper. He unfolded it.
It was a child's crayon drawing.
It showed a little boy with dark hair holding hands with a tall man in a black suit.
But it was what was written at the top of the page that made my blood run cold.
Written in the sloppy, unmistakable handwriting of a six-year-old child:
My new daddy said we are going on a trip.
Dominic flipped the drawing over.
On the back, stamped in red ink, was a logo.
Rossi Cargo Lines.
"Antonio has my nephew," Dominic whispered.
May you like
He looked up, pure murder in his eyes.
"Marco. Mobilize every man we have. We're going to war."
