Chapter 11 - the split crown
The dynamic in the room shattered instantly.
Vivienne spun on Eleanor, her polished composure cracking wide open. "What boy? Eleanor, what is he talking about?"
Eleanor backed away toward the bed, clutching her chest. "It’s nothing, Vivienne. Dominic is trying to divide us."
"There is a six-year-old child living in upstate New York," Dominic said, watching Vivienne’s eyes widen in real-time. "Julian's son. Bearing Julian's legal surname. Which means under New York probate law, your marriage trust doesn't take priority, Vivienne. The direct male heir inherits the primary trust automatically."
Vivienne looked at Eleanor, her expression shifting from confusion to blinding rage. "You swore to me! You told me Julian had no other beneficiaries! You let me sign those indemnity agreements with the DA's office while you were hiding an heir?"
"He was an innocent child!" Eleanor cried out. "He had nothing to do with Vito’s deals!"
"You used me!" Vivienne shouted, stepping directly into Eleanor’s space. "I put my career, my brother’s office, and my life on the line to shield your estate, and you were waiting for this child to turn eighteen so you could throw me out in the cold!"
"Back up," Dominic commanded, stepping between them with a presence that instantly filled the room.
Vivienne turned on Dominic, her chest heaving with frantic fury. "If my brother finds out there is an undisclosed heir, the deal is dead! Do you hear me? The immunity agreements are void! He will execute warrants on every single one of us by eight o'clock this morning!"
"Then let him come," Dominic said.
"You're insane!" Vivienne shrieked. "You don't have the muscle to fight the federal government, Dominic! Half your capos are already negotiating side deals with Miller's investigators! Who do you think let the tactical team into Warehouse 7 tonight?"
Dominic went still. "Who?"
"Salvatore," Vivienne spat out, naming Dominic’s most senior captain. "And Corrado. They know the ship is sinking. You're standing on the deck of a burning empire, Dominic, and you're the only one who doesn't smell the smoke!"
Dominic turned to the doorway. Marco was standing in the shadows of the corridor, his face grim.
"Marco," Dominic said without looking at him.
"Yes, Boss?"
"Lock Vivienne in the cellar vault. The one with three feet of reinforced concrete."
"Dominic, you can't do this!" Vivienne screamed as Marco stepped into the room and grabbed her by both wrists. "Miller will tear this house apart brick by brick!"
Dominic didn't answer. He watched Marco drag Vivienne down the hallway, her frantic curses echoing against the high ceilings until a distant iron door slammed shut.
May you like
Dominic turned back to his mother.
"Sit down, Ma," he said, pulling out a chair. "We're going to have an honest conversation. And if you lie to me once... I walk out that front door and let the feds have every single brick of this estate."
