Chapter 7 - THE UNCLE WHO WANTED THE EMPIRE
Dominic Romano had helped raise Alessandro after his father's death.
He was sixty-three.
Silver-haired.
Elegant.
And widely regarded as the most calculating man in the Romano organization.
Alessandro trusted him.
Or had.
My mother explained that Nora discovered Dominic had been diverting money from the family's legitimate businesses into accounts connected to organized crime.
She threatened to expose him.
Then she was attacked.
Nora survived.
But she believed returning home would endanger both herself and Sofia.
So she disappeared.
For years, she remained hidden.
Then she learned Dominic had begun taking a greater interest in Sofia.
She feared he intended to use the child to pressure Alessandro.
Three weeks earlier, Nora secretly brought Sofia to Rosie's Diner.
She wanted to see whether I was trustworthy.
Because my mother had told her I would help anyone in trouble.
I stared at Mom.
“You never told me.”
She looked ashamed.
“I was trying to protect you.”
I swallowed.
“By keeping me in the dark?”
She nodded.
“I know.”
Alessandro stood.
“Where is Nora now?”
My mother looked at him.
“I don't know.”
His expression hardened.
“Then how do we find my daughter?”
My mother reached for a small envelope beside her chair.
“Nora left this.”
Inside was a photograph.
A lakeside cabin.
May you like
And a handwritten message.
IF SOFIA EVER COMES LOOKING FOR ME, FOLLOW THE BLUE LIGHT.
