Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO OWNED THE SHADOWS
Audrey learned the truth about Dominic Serrano the following morning.
Not from him.
From the internet.
She searched his name.
Then stared at the screen.
Headlines filled the page.
SERRANO FAMILY UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
PHILADELPHIA BUSINESSMAN LINKED TO ORGANIZED CRIME NETWORK
DOMINIC SERRANO: SHIPPING MAGNATE OR UNDERWORLD KING?
Audrey sat motionless.
Then called him.
He answered immediately.
"Audrey."
"Are you a mafia boss?"
Silence.
Then:
"That's a complicated question."
She closed her eyes.
"Dominic."
"Yes."
"Are you involved in organized crime?"
A pause.
"Yes."
Audrey stared at the wall.
Then said, "Well, that's inconvenient."
Dominic exhaled.
"I know."
She stood.
"You should've told me."
"You're right."
"Before you came to my parents' house."
"Yes."
"Before you offered to drive me home."
"Yes."
She frowned.
"Stop agreeing with me."
"Would you prefer I argue?"
"No."
"Then we're making progress."
Audrey almost laughed.
Almost.
Then she became serious.
"I don't want to be part of your world."
Dominic's voice softened.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
She swallowed.
"Then don't contact me again."
Silence.
A long silence.
Then Dominic said, "All right."
Audrey closed her eyes.
She had expected resistance.
A speech.
A promise.
Something dramatic.
Instead, he respected her answer.
That somehow hurt more.
"Goodbye, Dominic."
"Goodbye, Audrey."
She ended the call.
Then sat down.
And stared at the pretzel wrapper she'd kept from the train.
Across the city, Dominic stood in his office.
Daniel watched him.
"Everything all right?"
Dominic looked at his phone.
"No."
Daniel hesitated.
"Miss Palmer?"
Dominic nodded.
Daniel waited.
Then said, "Should I arrange security?"
"No."
"Boss—"
"She asked me not to contact her."
Daniel looked surprised.
Dominic put down the phone.
"Then we respect that."
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For the first time in years, Dominic Serrano had met someone he couldn't protect by controlling the situation.
And he was beginning to understand that love, if it ever came, would require something entirely different.
