Chapter 7 - The Brother Dominic Never Found

Victor survived surgery.

Evan Hale was arrested.

Ward surrendered himself for the old bribe before anyone asked him to.

Dominic disappeared.

Again.

Marco cared about one thing.

His brother.

Maria sat in a hospital waiting room.

Marco across from her.

The photograph between them.

Baby.

Maria.

Antonio.

Dominic in the background.

Marco asked:

“Name.”

“Gabriel.”

“How old?”

“Twenty-six.”

Marco calculated.

Eight years younger.

“Why was he hidden?”

Maria looked at the photograph.

“Because Antonio was not his father.”

Silence.

Marco stared.

“Then whose son is he?”

Maria closed her eyes.

“Dominic’s.”

Marco stood.

“No.”

“It happened before Antonio and I married.”

“No.”

“Marco—”

“You had a child with my uncle?”

“Yes.”

He walked away.

Then turned.

“And my father knew?”

“Yes.”

“He raised me knowing?”

“Yes.”

“He planned to raise Gabriel too?”

“Yes.”

Marco looked stunned.

Maria continued.

“Dominic did not know Gabriel existed.”

“How?”

“I told everyone the pregnancy ended.”

“Why?”

“Because Dominic had already become dangerous.”

Marco looked at the photograph.

“Antonio protected his brother’s child.”

“Yes.”

“Even while investigating him.”

“Yes.”

That hurt in a different way.

Marco whispered:

“My father was better than all of you.”

Maria cried.

“Yes.”

“Where is Gabriel?”

“Boston.”

“Does he know?”

“That I am his mother?”

“Yes.

“That Dominic is his father?”

“No.”

Marco laughed bitterly.

“Another person whose life everyone edited.”

Maria nodded.

“Yes.”

Marco took out his phone.

“Call him.”

Maria froze.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“He is not ready.”

Marco looked at her.

“You do not get to decide that again.”

Maria lowered her eyes.

Then called.

Gabriel answered.

A man’s voice.

“Maria?”

Marco stared.

“He calls you Maria?”

She nodded.

He knew her as a family friend.

Maria said:

“Gabriel, I need to tell you something.”

Marco took the phone.

“No.”

Maria looked up.

Marco spoke.

“My name is Marco Bellini.”

Silence.

Gabriel answered:

“I know who you are.”

Marco frowned.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Dominic came to see me yesterday.”

Everyone went still.

Marco stood.

“What did he tell you?”

“That Maria is my mother.”

Marco’s face hardened.

“And him?”

“That he is my father.”

Maria covered her mouth.

Marco asked:

“Where are you?”

Gabriel hesitated.

“Not Boston.”

“Where?”

“At the Bellini lake house.”

Maria stood.

“No.”

Marco knew the place.

An hour away.

Unused for years.

He asked:

“Is Dominic there?”

Silence.

Then Gabriel whispered:

“Yes.”

The line cut.

Marco grabbed his coat.

Maria stopped him.

“He wants you there.”

“I know.”

“It is a trap.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t go.”

Marco looked at her.

“He is my brother.”

Maria’s eyes filled.

“You have known for five minutes.”

“That is five minutes longer than he had anyone choosing him.”

She let go.

They reached the lake house before dawn.

Marco.

Maria.

Ward.

Me.

Elena stayed at the hospital with Victor.

Arthur sent digital copies of the evidence to federal authorities.

The lake house door was open.

Inside, Dominic sat by the fireplace.

Gabriel stood near the window.

Twenty-six.

Dark hair.

Same eyes as Marco.

No resemblance to Dominic except the jaw.

Marco stopped.

Gabriel looked at him.

“So.”

Marco nodded.

“So.”

Dominic smiled.

“Family reunion.”

Marco ignored him.

“You okay?”

Gabriel nodded.

“He did not hurt me.”

Dominic said:

“I wanted him to know.”

Marco looked at his uncle.

“You wanted leverage.”

“No.”

“For once, no.”

Dominic looked at Gabriel.

“I lost every chance to be his father.”

Maria said:

“You never had one.”

Dominic flinched.

Gabriel looked between them.

“Did you know about me?”

Dominic shook his head.

“Not until last month.”

“How?”

“Victor’s files.”

Marco asked:

“Why did Victor have them?”

Dominic smiled faintly.

“Because Victor knew every secret.”

Maria whispered:

“Except how to survive them.”

Dominic stood.

Ward raised his gun.

Dominic lifted empty hands.

“I’m not armed.”

Marco said:

“Then talk.”

Dominic looked at Gabriel.

“Antonio planned to expose us and take both boys away.”

“Both?”

“You and Gabriel.”

Marco stared.

“He knew Gabriel was yours.”

“Yes.”

“And still protected him.”

Dominic’s face tightened.

“Yes.”

Marco said:

“That must have made you hate him.”

Dominic looked at the floor.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Then Marco asked:

“Did you hit him?”

“Yes.”

“Did you leave him alive?”

“Yes.”

“Did you know Hale would finish it?”

Dominic did not answer.

Marco stepped closer.

“Did you know?”

Dominic whispered:

“Yes.”

Gabriel turned away.

Maria cried.

Marco stared at the man who had raised him.

“You did not kill my father with your hands.”

“No.”

“You just made sure the man who would was there.”

Dominic nodded.

Then sirens appeared outside.

Federal.

Ward had sent the location before entering.

Dominic did not run.

He looked at Gabriel.

“I am sorry.”

Gabriel replied:

“You are sorry because you lost.”

Dominic almost smiled.

“No.”

Then looked at Marco.

“I lost eighteen years ago.”

Agents entered.

Dominic surrendered.

As they took him away, Gabriel looked at Maria.

“Is there anything else?”

Maria hesitated.

Marco noticed.

“Mom.”

She closed her eyes.

Gabriel said:

“There is.”

Maria whispered:

“Yes.”

Marco’s jaw tightened.

“What?”

She looked at both sons.

“Antonio left something for you.”

“Money?”

“No.”

“A letter?”

Maria shook her head.

“A recording.”

Marco frowned.

“Where?”

Maria looked toward Arthur’s old studio.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

“In the one camera Dominic never thought to search.”

========================================================================