Chapter 2 - THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN MANHATTAN
Chloe had imagined the home of a mafia boss would be filled with armed men, expensive paintings, and people too frightened to speak.
She was right about the armed men.
The rest surprised her.
Dominic Russo lived in a limestone townhouse overlooking a quiet stretch of the East River.
There were books everywhere.
A grand piano stood beneath a skylight.
Fresh flowers rested on the dining table.
And a gray-haired woman in a blue cardigan opened the door before the car had fully stopped.
“Dominic, you're late.”
Then she saw Chloe.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Chloe looked down at her ruined wedding dress.
“I can explain.”
The woman shook her head.
“Not before you get warm.”
Her name was Teresa Russo.
Dominic's aunt.
She had raised him after his mother died.
Within fifteen minutes, Chloe was sitting in a guest bedroom wearing borrowed sweatpants and an oversized sweater.
Teresa had cleaned her knees.
A doctor had examined her ankle.
And someone had brought her hot tea.
Nobody asked why she had arrived in a wedding gown.
That almost made her cry.
Dominic entered after knocking.
He carried the cream-colored folder.
Chloe stared.
“You have it?”
He nodded.
“I retrieved it from the library.”
“How?”
“Hotel security preserved the room after the disturbance. My attorney arranged for the document to be secured.”
Chloe looked down.
“I thought I'd lost it.”
Dominic sat across from her.
“Your signature isn't on it.”
“No.”
“Good.”
She swallowed.
“Can they still blame me?”
“They can accuse you. That doesn't make the accusation true.”
She looked at him.
“Liam said the money was yours.”
Dominic nodded.
“Five million dollars disappeared from a shipping investment account.”
Chloe's heart accelerated.
“Was it illegal money?”
Dominic considered the question.
“The account belonged to a legitimate company. But I won't pretend every business I've ever touched has been clean.”
She appreciated the honesty.
Even if it frightened her.
Dominic opened the folder.
“Liam's scheme depends on making you responsible for Osprey Holdings.”
Chloe nodded.
“He wanted me to sign.”
“Yes.”
“And Samantha helped him.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Apparently.”
Chloe stared at the floor.
Samantha had been her best friend since college.
She'd helped choose the wedding dress.
Organized the bridal shower.
Held Chloe while she cried after her father's funeral.
And all that time—
Chloe covered her mouth.
Dominic waited.
When she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible.
“Were they together?”
He didn't answer immediately.
“I don't know how long.”
She looked up.
“But you know they were?”
“Yes.”
Chloe closed her eyes.
She wanted to scream.
Instead, she laughed.
A terrible, broken sound.
“My father loved him.”
Dominic said nothing.
“He told me Liam was a good man.”
Her voice cracked.
“And now I don't know whether Liam ever loved me at all.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“Chloe.”
She looked at him.
“What Liam did tells you who he is.”
He paused.
“It doesn't tell you what you're worth.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
For the first time that night, she allowed herself to cry.
At midnight, Dominic's attorney arrived.
Her name was Evelyn Shaw.
She was forty-six, sharp-eyed, and carried a leather briefcase that looked older than Chloe.
Evelyn explained that Chloe needed independent legal representation.
Not Dominic's lawyer.
Her own.
Someone whose only responsibility was protecting her interests.
Chloe nodded.
“I don't have much money.”
Evelyn smiled.
“We can discuss options.”
Dominic offered to cover an initial consultation without influencing the attorney's work.
Chloe hesitated.
Then accepted.
Only after making it clear she would repay him if possible.
Dominic didn't argue.
Before leaving, Evelyn asked one question.
“Miss Davis, did your father have any connection to Osprey Holdings?”
Chloe shook her head.
“Not that I know of.”
“Why use that name?”
Chloe looked down at her veil.
“My father had a fishing boat called Osprey.”
Evelyn's expression changed.
“Did Liam know?”
“Yes.”
“Did he have access to your father's financial records?”
Chloe hesitated.
“After Dad died, Liam helped organize the estate.”
Dominic looked at Evelyn.
Something silent passed between them.
Chloe noticed.
“What?”
Evelyn closed her folder.
“We need to review your father's estate documents.”
Chloe felt cold.
“Why?”
Dominic answered.
“Because Liam may not have chosen you only for your signature.”
May you like
He looked at the embroidered veil.
“He may have chosen you for something your father left behind.”
