Chapter 10 - the shadow across the ocean
Six months later, the afternoon sun cast a breathtaking golden light across the stone terrace of the Caruso estate.
The family was enjoying a quiet afternoon. One-year-old Grace was happily walking across the green grass in her small cream shoes, chasing a small golden retriever puppy Dominic had bought for her, while Hannah sat at a white wrought-iron table sipping fresh tea.
Dominic stood near the balustrade, wearing a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his dark tattoos, holding a glass of fresh lemonade.
Marcus walked out onto the stone terrace, carrying a heavy black leather envelope stamped with a red wax seal—a crest depicting a golden lion holding a broken key.
Marcus handed the envelope to Dominic, his expression calm but focused. "Boss. A private courier just brought this from the airport in Rome. It came directly from the High Council in Europe."
Dominic broke the heavy wax seal, pulling out a single sheet of heavy parchment written in fine gold Italian calligraphy.
He read the first two lines, his relaxed expression slowly sharpening into an intense, focused gaze.
Hannah noticed the shift in his posture and stood up, stepping closer to his side. "Dominic? What is it?"
Dominic slowly read the lines written across the parchment, his deep voice calm but echoing with a subtle edge of danger:
"To Don Dominic Caruso: The debt of Chicago is settled, and Grace is safe. But your late brother Julian's secondary trust in Venice has just been claimed by an unknown child in Italy."
Hannah looked at the letter, her brows furrowing with concern. "Another child?"
Dominic slowly folded the black parchment, placing it into his inner pocket. He looked out across the wide, sparkling blue expanse of Lake Michigan toward the horizon, a calm, unshakeable resolve settling into his dark eyes.
May you like
He reached out, taking Hannah's hand in his broad palm, while down on the lawn, little Grace looked up and waved at them with a wide, happy smile.
"Whatever secret Julian left behind in Venice, my love," Dominic whispered gently, kissing Hannah's forehead as the warm summer breeze swept across the terrace, "we face it together."
