Chapter 7 – [THE BLACK ENVELOPE]

Dominic took the black envelope from Leo’s hand.

The heavy wax seal on the back bore a symbol that made the blood drain from Dominic’s face.

A silver serpent wrapped around a dagger.

“The Rossi family,” Dominic breathed.

My mother helped Grace sit up on the sofa while the paramedics bandaged her side. “Who are the Rossis?” I asked, looking at the dread in Dominic’s eyes.

“Our rivals,” Dominic said grimly. “Margaret must have made a deal with them.”

He broke the seal and pulled out a single sheet of heavy parchment.

He read it in silence. His jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth would shatter.

“What does it say?” Leo asked.

Dominic handed the letter to his brother.

Leo read it aloud.

“Margaret Harrington promised us the Moretti shipping ports in exchange for Vincenzo’s offshore accounts. If she is arrested, the deal is void. If the deal is void, the bloodline ends tonight. Look out the window, Dominic.”

We all rushed to the window, peering past the police cruisers in the driveway.

Parked across the street, in the shadows of the old oak trees, were three black SUVs.

Their headlights suddenly flicked on, blinding us.

“They’re waiting for the police to leave,” Dominic said, stepping back from the glass. “Once the cops clear out, they’re going to storm the house.”

“There are only a few officers left,” Mrs. Ellis said in a panic, walking into the room. “The rest are escorting Margaret to the precinct.”

Dominic turned to me. “Sophie, you need to take your mother, Evelyn, and Mrs. Ellis down to the basement panic room. Now.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I said, my voice trembling but firm.

“Sophie, please. I can’t protect you if you’re out here.”

“I’ll fight,” Leo said, stepping up beside his brother.

Dominic looked at him. “You’ve been fighting your whole life, Leo. It’s time you let me protect you.”

Grace stood up, leaning heavily on Evelyn. “We’re not running, Dominic. We’re a family.”

Dominic looked at the circle of people around him.

A battered maid. A traumatized brother. A wounded sister. A devoted mother. An exhausted seamstress. And a brave housekeeper.

It was the most fractured, chaotic family in the world.

But it was his.

“Alright,” Dominic said, his eyes hardening with resolve. He pulled a second handgun from his desk drawer and handed it to Leo. “Do you remember how to use this?”

Leo checked the safety. “Vincenzo taught me before he died.”

“Good.” Dominic looked at me. “Sophie, take the women to the reinforced study down the hall. Lock the doors. Do not open them for anyone but me.”

I nodded, grabbing my mother’s hand.

As we hurried down the corridor, the sound of tires screeching echoed from the driveway.

The SUVs had breached the gates.

We threw ourselves into the study, locking the heavy deadbolts just as the front doors of the mansion were kicked open.

Gunfire erupted.

The sound was deafening, echoing through the marble halls.

Evelyn held Grace tightly, praying softly. My mother held my hand, her thumb rubbing comforting circles over my knuckles.

“He’s going to be okay,” my mother whispered to me. “Dominic is strong.”

I closed my eyes, praying she was right.

Suddenly, the gunfire stopped.

The house fell completely, terrifyingly silent.

Heavy footsteps approached the study door.

I grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the desk, standing in front of my mother.

The doorknob turned. The deadbolt held.

Then, a voice called out.

“Sophie. It’s me.”

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