Chapter 5 - The Secret in the Files
Hannah’s breath hitched in her throat as she stared at the glowing screen of her phone.
Get out of that house, Hannah. Dominic Vale killed your mother, and he will kill you too.
Her hands began to shake violently. Her mother? Her mother had died of a heart attack when Hannah was two years old—at least, that was what her father had always told her. Her father had rarely spoken about her mother, keeping her memory locked away in a few old photographs and faded stories.
Could it be a prank? A scare tactic from Dominic’s enemies?
Before she could process the terror, a quiet knock sounded at her suite door.
Hannah snatched her phone, shoving it deep into her pocket. “Who is it?”
The door opened, and Dominic stepped inside. He had changed into a dark navy sweater and black trousers, looking less like a ruthless mob boss and more like a tired, tormented father.
“The girls are due for their afternoon rest,” Dominic said softly, nodding toward the triplets, who were beginning to rub their eyes. “I thought I’d help you tuck them in.”
Hannah watched him closely as he walked over to the small adjoining bedroom equipped with three matching cribs. He picked up Lily with remarkable gentleness, laying her down and pulling the blanket over her shoulders.
He loved them. Anyone with eyes could see that Dominic Vale adored his daughters with every fiber of his soul.
Could a man like this have killed my mother twenty-four years ago? Hannah wondered, her pulse hammering against her ribs.
Once the girls were asleep, Dominic stepped back into the main sitting room. He noticed Hannah’s pale face and tense posture immediately.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic asked, his sharp eyes scanning her face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I... I’m just tired, Mr. Vale,” Hannah lied, keeping her voice as steady as possible. “It’s been a overwhelming twenty-four hours.”
Dominic looked at her for a long moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out an encrypted black tablet.
“I had my legal team draft the employment agreement,” Dominic said, setting the tablet on the coffee table. “Fifty thousand a month, full medical coverage, and a guaranteed trust fund set up in your name after one year of service. You can review it.”
Hannah looked at the tablet, then looked up at him. “Mr. Vale... my father, Arthur Mercer. Did you run a check on his history too?”
Dominic’s brow furled slightly. “Of course. Standard protocol. He was an independent accountant in Queens for thirty years. No criminal record.”
“And my mother?” Hannah pressed, taking a step toward him. “Her name was Evelyn Mercer. Did your team find anything about her?”
Dominic stared at her, his expression unreadable. “Why are you asking about your mother suddenly, Hannah?”
“Because she died when I was two,” Hannah said, her voice rising slightly. “And I want to know if your extensive intelligence team found her death certificate.”
Dominic didn't answer immediately. He picked up the tablet, tapped the screen a few times, and accessed his private server files. He scrolled through a dense document before looking up at Hannah, his eyes dark with a sudden, unsettling realization.
“Your mother’s maiden name wasn't Mercer,” Dominic said slowly, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. “It was Evelyn Rossi.”
Hannah blinked. “Rossi? No... my father said her maiden name was Vance.”
“Your father lied to you, Hannah,” Dominic said flatly, turning the tablet screen toward her. “Evelyn Rossi was the younger sister of Bernardo Rossi—the former head of the Chicago syndicate.”
Hannah felt the floor beneath her feet tilt. “What? No... that’s impossible! My parents were ordinary people!”
“Evelyn Rossi vanished from Chicago twenty-four years ago after a bloody turf war,” Dominic explained, his eyes locking onto Hannah’s face with intense precision. “She cut ties with her family, changed her name to Evelyn Mercer, and went into hiding in Queens.”
Dominic stepped closer, his jaw tight. “Which means, Hannah... you aren't just an innocent civilian. You are the niece of the most powerful mob boss in the Midwest.”
Hannah backed away, bumping against the edge of the desk. “I didn't know... I swear to God, I didn't know!”
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Dominic took another step, but before he could speak, his encryption radio buzzed sharply at his belt.
His head head-security officer’s voice crackled over the speaker: “Mr. Vale, we have a breach at the southern gate! Two unidentified vehicles just rammed the security checkpoint! They’re heavily armed!”
