THE LIES SHE POURED

Dominic looked at me sitting on the floor, covered in dirt and tears, clutching Leo. Then his eyes shifted to Arthur's still body, and finally to Rebecca, who was just beginning to stir on the stone floor.

His face was an emotionless mask, but the terrifying stillness in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. The mafia boss had returned, and there would be no mercy.

He stepped into the vault. Two heavily armed men in black suits flanked the doorway behind him.

"Sadie," Dominic said softly. "Take Leo upstairs. My men have secured the house. An ambulance is waiting for you both in the driveway."

"Uncle Dom!" Leo cried, breaking away from me and running to his uncle.

Dominic knelt, catching the boy in a fierce embrace. He buried his face in Leo’s neck for a second, a brief crack in his armor, before handing the boy to one of the guards. "Take him to the medic. Do not leave his sight."

As the guard carried Leo away, I slowly stood up. My knees shook. I looked at Arthur, my heart aching. "He saved us, Dominic. He used a fire poker on her. His heart gave out."

Dominic looked down at Arthur, a flicker of profound respect crossing his face. "He died a brave man."

On the floor, Rebecca groaned, rubbing the back of her head where the iron had struck her. She blinked, her vision clearing as she saw Dominic standing over her.

Panic seized her instantly.

"Dominic!" she cried, scrambling backward like a crab until her back hit the wine racks. "Thank God! Marco's men broke in, they tried to kill me! Arthur attacked me, he went crazy—"

"Stop talking," Dominic commanded. The quiet authority in his voice made her mouth snap shut.

I walked over to Dominic and held out my hand. Sitting in my palm was the tiny micro-SD card.

"Arthur gave this to me right before he died," I said, my voice steady now. "It's the dashcam footage from the night Margaret died. He said it shows everything."

Rebecca let out a blood-curdling scream. She lunged at me, trying to snatch the card, but Dominic caught her by the throat, slamming her back against the wooden racks with terrifying force. Bottles rattled violently.

"I said stop," he hissed, his face inches from hers.

He took the SD card from my hand and slipped it into his pocket.

"Marco Vance is dead," Dominic said casually, as if reporting the weather. "He tried to run me off the road. He failed. I left him in a burning ditch."

Rebecca began to sob hysterically, thrashing in his grip. "Dominic, please, I love you! I only did it because Marco blackmailed me! I had to!"

"You didn't have to terrorize my nephew," Dominic said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You didn't have to murder your mother. And you didn't have to betray me."

He released her throat, letting her slump to the floor in a heap of ruined silk and desperation.

Dominic looked at his remaining guard. "Call the police. Tell them we have a confession for the nineteen-year-old cold case of Margaret Ellis. Hand over the SD card. And tell the warden at Rikers I want her in general population."

"No!" Rebecca screamed, crawling and grabbing at Dominic’s shoes. "No, you can't do this to me! I'm your fiancée!"

Dominic pulled his foot away in disgust. He slipped the diamond engagement ring off his pinky finger—he had clearly taken it back from her room earlier—and tossed it onto the stone floor next to her.

"Not anymore."