Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Mask
Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Mask
The countdown continued.
23:59:47.
23:59:46.
23:59:45.
Nobody moved.
The security room felt colder than the cellar.
Dominic stared at the black screen.
His face revealed nothing.
But everyone who knew him understood.
Something inside him had changed.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Something far more dangerous.
Determination.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Boss."
"That message wasn't just a threat."
Dominic nodded slowly.
"I know."
Marcus looked at the timer.
"He wants you to watch every second."
"He wants you desperate."
Dominic placed the flash drive from Victor's safe on the table.
"Then we give him what he wants."
Daniel looked surprised.
"What?"
Dominic picked up the drive.
"We make him believe we are losing."
Marcus understood immediately.
"You want him to think he's controlling the game."
Dominic looked toward the frozen image of Claire.
"No."
"I want him to make one mistake."
The room remained silent.
Then Dominic turned to Olivia.
"Find every connection between Eleanor Brooks and Nathan Cross."
"Bank accounts."
"Property records."
"Phone numbers."
"Anything."
Olivia nodded quickly.
"I'll start immediately."
"And Olivia."
She stopped.
"Yes, Mr. Vale?"
"If you find something that scares you..."
"...don't investigate alone."
She swallowed.
"Understood."
After she left, Dominic looked at Daniel.
"How many men can you trust?"
Daniel answered honestly.
"After today?"
"Maybe five."
"Maybe less."
Dominic wasn't surprised.
For years, he had believed loyalty was built through fear.
Through money.
Through power.
But today he had discovered something worse.
The people closest to him had learned how to hide their betrayal.
Upstairs...
Mia rested in Dominic's private guest room.
Dr. Ellis had cleaned her wounds and given her medication.
Harper slept beside her mother, holding onto her hand.
Dominic stood in the doorway.
He watched them silently.
Mia opened her eyes.
"You blame yourself."
Dominic looked at her.
"You were hurt in my house."
"Because I wasn't here."
Mia shook her head.
"No."
"Because someone wanted you to think that."
Dominic stepped inside.
"You knew something was wrong."
Mia looked away.
"I suspected."
"Tell me."
She took a slow breath.
"The morning you left for Atlantic City, Claire came to my room."
Dominic's expression changed.
"What did she say?"
Mia looked toward Harper.
"I don't want her hearing this."
Dominic glanced at the sleeping child.
He lowered his voice.
"She won't."
Mia continued.
"Claire told me she knew about my past."
Dominic frowned.
"What past?"
Mia hesitated.
"Before I worked here..."
"I wasn't always a housekeeper."
Dominic waited.
"I worked for another family."
"Which family?"
Mia looked directly at him.
"The Black Raven family."
The room went completely still.
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
The same symbol from the letter.
The same organization he thought had disappeared.
"What did you do for them?"
Mia shook her head.
"Nothing."
"I cleaned houses."
"I cooked."
"I took care of children."
"Same as here."
"Then why would Claire care?"
Mia's fingers tightened around the blanket.
"Because she knew my real identity."
Dominic stepped closer.
"What identity?"
Mia looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
"Your first wife's sister."
The words hit harder than any bullet.
Dominic froze.
"My first wife..."
"Victoria."
Mia nodded.
"Her name was Victoria Vale."
"She wasn't killed by your enemies."
Dominic's breathing became heavier.
For twelve years, he had lived with the belief that Victoria died because of a rival attack.
Every report.
Every investigation.
Every witness.
They all pointed in the same direction.
The Black Raven family.
Mia continued.
"Victoria discovered something."
"What?"
"She found out Nathan was working with them."
Dominic's face went blank.
"No."
Mia looked at him sadly.
"I'm sorry."
"She tried to tell you."
"But someone made sure you never received the message."
Dominic remembered that night.
The phone call that never came through.
The meeting that was suddenly canceled.
The evidence that disappeared.
Everything he thought was bad luck.
Maybe it wasn't.
Maybe it was planned.
Mia reached into the drawer beside the bed.
She pulled out a small silver object.
Dominic recognized it immediately.
A necklace.
A silver bird pendant.
The same one she had worn in the cellar.
"This belonged to Victoria."
Dominic stared at it.
"Why do you have it?"
"Because she gave it to me before she died."
His voice became quieter.
"What did she tell you?"
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"She said..."
"...if Dominic ever learns the truth..."
"...tell him I never stopped loving him."
For the first time in years...
Dominic Vale looked completely broken.
Then his phone rang.
The number was unknown.
Everyone in the house froze.
Dominic answered.
A distorted voice spoke immediately.
"You found out too much."
Dominic's grip tightened.
"Who are you?"
A quiet laugh came through the speaker.
"You still don't recognize my voice?"
The call went silent for two seconds.
Then the man whispered:
"Dominic..."
"Your brother is waiting for you."
Dominic's eyes turned cold.
"Nathan."
The voice laughed.
"No."
"Not Nathan."
A pause.
"Your real enemy."
The call ended.
At the exact same moment...
The countdown on the security screen changed.
23:00:00.
And beneath it appeared a new message.
May you like
COME ALONE.
OR THE NEXT PERSON I SEND YOU WILL BE SOMEONE YOU LOVE.
