Chapter 10 - The Truth Dominic Couldn't Tell Me
I slowly lowered the phone.
Dominic was watching me.
“What did he say?”
I stared at him.
My father's warning echoed through my head.
Don't trust the man standing beside you.
I looked toward Claire.
Then back at Dominic.
“He said he's alive.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“Did he tell you where?”
“No.”
It was the first deliberate lie I'd told him.
And I hated how easily it came.
Claire noticed.
She didn't say anything.
Dominic looked toward the phone.
“We need to trace the call.”
“Ruiz can handle that,” Claire said.
Dominic nodded.
But something in his expression bothered me.
He wasn't surprised enough.
He looked frightened.
As if he'd been expecting this moment.
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
“I need to go.”
Dominic stepped toward me.
“Avery—”
“Don't.”
He stopped.
I looked at the documents spread across the desk.
“Your father knew mine was alive.”
Dominic said nothing.
“And you found this cabinet only now?”
“Yes.”
I stared.
“Why should I believe you?”
He looked exhausted.
“Because I'm telling you the truth.”
I almost laughed.
“That hasn't worked out very well for my family.”
Claire placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Let's go.”
We left the mansion.
Outside, I waited until we reached her car.
Then I told her what Dad had said.
She listened carefully.
“Did he name Dominic?”
“No.”
“He said the man standing beside you?”
“Yes.”
Claire considered that.
“Could he see you?”
I froze.
“What?”
“Did he say he could see you?”
“No.”
“Then how would he know who was standing beside you?”
My stomach tightened.
Someone had been watching us.
Or someone had told him Dominic would be there.
Claire looked toward the mansion.
“We need to assume the office was monitored.”
I remembered the hidden cabinet.
The security cameras.
Martin Shaw.
The company that seemed to know every move we made.
“Do you think Dominic is involved?”
Claire hesitated.
“I think he's hiding something.”
That was enough.
We drove to a secure meeting location used by Ruiz's investigative team.
There, Claire showed him the documents and the threatening messages.
He arranged for specialists to examine the phone evidence and seek legal access to relevant financial and property records.
Then he asked me something.
“Miss Carter, are you willing to cooperate fully?”
“Yes.”
“Even if the evidence implicates someone you care about?”
I thought of Dominic.
Then Vanessa.
Then my mother.
“Yes.”
Ruiz nodded.
“Good.”
That evening, Claire received the first results from the documents.
Harbor Care Services had been operating under several names.
Its current registered address belonged to a private rehabilitation center outside Harrisburg.
I stared at the location.
“That's only two hours away.”
Claire nodded.
“Which is why we're not rushing there.”
I wanted to argue.
But she was already calling Ruiz.
A warrant would be needed for nonpublic records and restricted areas.
And if my father was being held against his will, charging through the front door could put him in danger.
I hated waiting.
But I hated the thought of losing him more.
At eight that night, Dominic called.
I didn't answer.
He called again.
Then sent a message.
Please let me explain.
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
I should have told you something about Gabriel.
My pulse quickened.
I called him.
“What?”
He answered immediately.
“Avery.”
“What didn't you tell me?”
A long silence.
Then he said, “Gabriel came to me before he died.”
I closed my eyes.
“When?”
“Three days before his hospitalization.”
“What did he want?”
“He asked me to help him expose our father.”
I gripped the phone.
“And?”
“I refused.”
The words hit hard.
“Why?”
“Because I thought he was trying to destroy the company.”
I stared at the wall.
“Did he tell you about my father?”
“Yes.”
My throat tightened.
“And you still did nothing?”
“I didn't believe him.”
I swallowed.
“What happened next?”
Dominic's voice broke.
“He gave me a folder.”
“What folder?”
“Evidence.”
“Where is it?”
“I destroyed it.”
I couldn't breathe.
“You what?”
“I was twenty-six, Avery.”
“I was nineteen when my father died.”
He went silent.
“You destroyed evidence that could have saved him.”
“I didn't know Thomas was in danger.”
“Gabriel told you!”
Dominic's voice cracked.
“I know!”
I stepped back.
For a moment, all I could hear was my own breathing.
Then he whispered, “I've lived with that decision for nine years.”
I wiped my face.
“Good.”
He didn't answer.
“You should.”
I ended the call.
Then I sat on the floor and cried.
Not because Dominic had betrayed me personally.
Because another person had chosen comfort over truth.
Another person had looked away.
And my father had paid the price.
At midnight, Maya brought me tea.
She sat beside me.
“Want to talk?”
I shook my head.
She handed me the cup anyway.
After a while, she said, “You know what your dad used to tell you after tournaments?”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“That winning wasn't about hitting harder.”
I smiled faintly.
“He said it was about knowing when to move.”
Maya nodded.
“Maybe it's time to move.”
The next morning, Ruiz called.
His team had obtained enough evidence to justify urgent action at the rehabilitation center.
I grabbed my keys.
Claire stopped me at the door.
“Avery.”
“What?”
“We found a patient registered under a false name.”
My heart raced.
“Who?”
She showed me the file.
Patient: HENRY WELLS.
Age: 59.
Admitted: Four years ago.
The photograph was blurry.
But I recognized the face.
Dad.
I covered my mouth.
Claire's eyes softened.
“We're going to get him.”
Then her phone rang again.
She answered.
Listened.
And went completely still.
“What happened?” I whispered.
She lowered the phone.
“The facility is evacuating patients.”
My heart stopped.
“Why?”
May you like
Claire looked at me.
“Someone called in a bomb threat.”
