Chapter 11 - Dominic’s Confession
Maya refused to leave Elena’s side.
Luca wanted Marcus to take them outside.
Dominic objected.
“The exits are being watched.”
“By Arthur?”
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I already ruined my life trying to keep you alive.”
Luca stared at his uncle.
Dominic sat heavily on a dusty chair.
“Twelve years ago, Arthur came to me with evidence that your father had diverted control of the trust.”
“To Maya.”
“To any child you might have.”
Dominic looked at Elena.
“Antonio knew about you.”
Elena stiffened.
“He knew I was pregnant?”
“He suspected.”
Dominic continued.
“Arthur wanted Luca dead before the beneficiary could be confirmed.”
Luca’s voice became quiet.
“And you?”
“I said no.”
“Teresa heard you tell him to keep me weak.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Elena looked horrified.
“You agreed to poison him.”
“I agreed to something that was supposed to last months.”
Dominic looked at Luca.
“Arthur said he could mimic neurological failure.”
“Why?”
“Because a dead Luca triggered an automatic forensic review of the trust.”
Dominic swallowed.
“But an incapacitated Luca left me temporary administrative authority.”
Luca finally understood.
“You thought you could control the trust long enough to find Elena.”
“I did.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Dominic’s shame appeared genuine.
“Arthur erased every lead.”
Luca’s voice hardened.
“Then why did I stay paralyzed twelve years?”
Dominic looked away.
“Because by the time I realized Arthur had given you a much larger dose, I was trapped.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I signed the transfers.”
“I lied to investigators.”
“I paid Grayson.”
“I falsified reports.”
Dominic’s eyes filled.
“And every year I told myself I was keeping Arthur satisfied so he would not finish what he started.”
Luca felt disgust rather than sympathy.
“You protected yourself.”
“Yes.”
Dominic nodded.
“I did.”
The honesty surprised everyone.
“I was a coward.”
Maya spoke from beside Elena.
“You could have told him.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Yes.”
“So why didn’t you?”
Dominic had no answer a child would accept.
That seemed to destroy him more effectively than Luca’s anger.
Then the building lights went out.
Marcus drew his weapon.
A voice came through the clinic speakers.
Arthur.
“Dominic.”
Dominic went pale.
Arthur continued.
“You always did confess when you were frightened.”
A metallic lock clicked somewhere behind them.
Then another.
The clinic doors sealed automatically.
Arthur’s voice came again.
May you like
“Luca wanted the truth.”
“Now he gets all of it.”
