Chapter 8 - HER FATHER'S VOICE
Hannah forgot the pain in her abdomen.
“Where is this diner?”
Claire zoomed in on the photograph. “Somewhere near Montpelier, I think.”
Dominic was already moving.
“Tomas, send it to our Vermont contact. Quietly.”
Hannah grabbed his sleeve. “No. You don’t get to send men after my father without telling me what happened seventeen years ago.”
Dominic stopped.
The room went silent.
He sat across from her.
“Your father uncovered a theft network inside a port redevelopment project. My brother was involved. So were two city officials and a federal contractor.”
“And you?”
“I benefited from the business around it without knowing where the money came from.”
“That’s convenient.”
“It’s shameful. Not convenient.”
Hannah held his gaze.
“He tried to expose Victor. Victor put a price on him. Vincent entered protection, but the case collapsed when a witness disappeared.”
“So my father stayed gone.”
“Yes.”
“And you let me think he abandoned me.”
Dominic looked down for the first time.
“He believed distance kept you alive.”
Hannah’s anger rose so fast she trembled.
“You all made decisions for me. My father. You. Bradley. Every man in my life decided I was safer ignorant.”
“No more,” Dominic said.
“Don’t promise me anything.”
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Dominic and Detective Chen both looked at it.
Hannah answered.
For three seconds there was only breathing.
Then a man said, “Hannah-bug?”
The room disappeared.
Her father had called her that in the letter.
Only her father.
Hannah’s throat closed.
“Dad?”
A sob came through the line.
“I’m sorry.”
She pressed the phone to her ear with both hands.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you. Bradley found me. Victor’s people are close.”
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m alive.”
Then his voice changed.
“Hannah, listen to me. Dominic is not the only Russo you should be afraid of.”
Dominic went still.
May you like
Her father whispered, “Ask him what happened to your mother.”
The call died.
