Chapter 8
Dominic made six decisions in one afternoon.
Every one closed a door behind him.
First, he resigned as chairman of the Bellaforte Children's Relief Foundation.
Immediately.
No honorary title.
No family veto.
No replacement chosen by him.
Second, he signed a consent resolution allowing an independent fiduciary administrator to take temporary control of all foundation disbursements.
Restricted funds could not move without outside approval.
Third, he authorized the foundation special committee to provide investigators with every relevant accounting record permitted by law.
Even documents that might expose unrelated Bellaforte misconduct.
His lawyer warned:
“You are opening doors federal agents may not close again.”
Dominic answered:
“They’re already open.”
Fourth, he surrendered all family-controlled security responsibility for Rose to a licensed outside protection firm approved by the court.
His own men could protect Dominic.
Not his daughter.
Fifth, he issued a direct order through counsel:
No Bellaforte associate was to contact Veronica.
Calvin Rusk.
North Pines staff.
Foundation employees.
Or any witness.
No intimidation.
No “help.”
No quiet conversations.
Anyone violating that order would be cut off from Bellaforte money and legitimate employment immediately.
His old lieutenant stared at him.
“You’re handing your family to cops.”
Dominic answered:
“I’m keeping my family alive.”
Finally, Dominic accepted that his slap at the gala would be handled through the ordinary criminal process.
His lawyer had an argument for defense of Rose and immediate confrontation after the carriage incident.
But the slap occurred after Dominic had already secured Rose with the bodyguard and walked back toward Veronica.
That distinction mattered.
The prosecutor ultimately charged a misdemeanor assault count.
Dominic did not use his influence to make it disappear.
He entered a diversion program pending final disposition.
Anger management.
Community service through a program with no Bellaforte connection.
No new offense.
If completed, the charge could be dismissed under the agreement.
His men considered it humiliating.
Sofia, wherever she was, would have called it accountability.
That thought hurt.
Then Dominic made the decision his lawyer feared most.
He authorized federal investigators working a separate organized-crime case to receive foundation records without Bellaforte employees filtering them first.
His lawyer said:
“This can hurt you.”
Dominic looked at Rose.
“I know.”
“If the records connect legitimate and illegitimate money flows—”
“I know.”
“This may cost you years of your life.”
Dominic’s expression did not move.
May you like
“So did what I built.”
There was no clean way back from that afternoon.
