Chapter 9 - THE UNCLE WHO WANTED AN EMPIRE
Salvatore Moretti had spent decades building influence.
He controlled warehouses, trucking companies, and private shipping contracts.
He also believed Dominic was too soft.
Too interested in legitimate business.
Too willing to walk away from the family's criminal history.
When Dominic inherited leadership of the Moretti organization, Salvatore smiled publicly.
Privately, he began building alliances.
One of those alliances was with the Bellamy family.
Investigators uncovered financial links between Salvatore and Bellamy Maritime.
The transactions matched entries in Michael's notebook.
The companies had been used to move money through fraudulent shipping contracts.
Michael had discovered the scheme.
Then he died.
Dominic sat in his office staring at the evidence.
Vincent stood nearby.
“Boss, this could destroy the family.”
Dominic looked up.
“Which family?”
Vincent frowned.
Dominic continued.
“The name on the building? Or the people we're supposed to protect?”
Vincent said nothing.
Dominic stood.
“I'm done protecting men who hurt children.”
That afternoon, I received a call from an unknown number.
A man's voice spoke.
“Grace Bennett.”
I froze.
“Who is this?”
“You have something that belongs to my family.”
My stomach tightened.
“Salvatore?”
A quiet laugh.
“You always were clever.”
I gripped the phone.
“What happened to Michael?”
Silence.
Then he said, “Your husband should have minded his own business.”
My knees weakened.
I pressed a hand against the counter.
“You killed him.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
His voice hardened.
“Give me the notebook.”
“No.”
A pause.
Then he said, “Think about your daughter.”
My blood turned cold.
“Don't you dare.”
“Children are fragile, Grace.”
I ended the call.
Then immediately contacted Elena and the investigators.
That evening, Dominic came to the guest cottage.
He stood outside until I opened the door.
“I heard about the call.”
I nodded.
“Are you okay?”
I almost laughed.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Do you want me to leave?”
I shook my head.
“Not yet.”
He stepped inside.
We sat at the kitchen table.
Lily was asleep in the next room.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then I whispered, “Michael was a good man.”
Dominic nodded.
“I believe you.”
“He would have loved Lily.”
“I know.”
My eyes filled.
“I don't want her growing up afraid.”
Dominic looked at me.
“Then we make sure she doesn't.”
I stared.
He corrected himself.
“We do everything we can. And we let the people trained to handle this help.”
I smiled faintly.
“That's better.”
He smiled too.
For the first time, I saw a man who was trying to change.
May you like
Not because he wanted to impress me.
But because he finally understood what power had cost the people around him.
