And beneath it:
I looked at Dominic.
“This started here.”
He took the menu.
“This started before you were born.”
He turned it over.
A second message had been written underneath.
THE WAITRESS WAS NEVER THE TARGET.
I stared at the words.
“What does that mean?”
Dominic looked at me.
“It means your father knew someone would eventually find you.”
I felt suddenly cold.
“He planned all this?”
Dominic shook his head.
“He planned for the possibility.”
Then headlights appeared outside.
Three cars.
Dominic reached for his weapon.
“Stay behind me.”
Men entered the warehouse.
But they weren't attacking.
The first man raised both hands.
“Mr. Pierce.”
Dominic recognized him.
It was Marcus Reed.
His chief financial officer.
“You came.”
Dominic aimed his gun.
“You've been lying to me for years.”
Marcus looked exhausted.
I stepped forward.
“Did you kill my father?”
Marcus looked at me.
“Did you know my mother?”
“Where is she?”
He hesitated.
“On a plane.”
My heart stopped.
“She landed an hour ago.”
Dominic lowered his gun slightly.
Marcus looked at me.
“She's already in New York.”
I could barely breathe.
“Because she finally decided she was done running.”
Then Marcus added quietly,
“She came back because she knows who killed your father.”
The warehouse doors slammed shut.
Marcus looked toward the entrance.
His expression changed.
“Too late.”
A voice came through the darkness.
“Not for me.”
A man stepped forward.
Nathaniel Cross.
I CAUGHT MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND PRACTICING HOW TO CRY WHEN HE APOLOGIZED...
PLEASE DON'T DIVORCE HIM!” MY HUSBAND'S MISTRESS SCREAMED, DROPPING TO H...
MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND HUNG UP ON MY MOTHER WHILE SHE WAS SAYING “I LOVE...
He smiled.
And beside him stood my mother.
My mother looked exactly like the photograph.
But unmistakably her.
I took one step forward.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She didn't move.
Nathaniel Cross stood beside her.
Dominic raised his gun.
Cross smiled.
“If you shoot me, she dies.”
My mother immediately said,
“He's lying.”
Cross's smile disappeared.
Dominic didn't lower the weapon.
“Get away from her.”
Cross laughed.
“You still think you're in control.”
My mother looked at me.
“Don't trust him.”
“I don't know who to trust.”
“That is why you're here.”
Cross gestured toward the table.
“Your father left evidence.”
I looked at him.
“You killed him.”
“Then who did?”
Cross's expression changed.
“Someone who wanted you to believe it was me.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
Everyone turned.
Marcus Reed stood near the entrance.
Cross looked at him.
“You should have stayed hidden.”
Marcus replied,
“Not well enough.”
My mother stepped away from Cross.
He grabbed her arm.
Dominic moved.
Cross pulled a gun.
Everything stopped.
My mother looked at me.
“Your father discovered a financial network hidden inside Dominic's company.”
Dominic said,
She shook her head.
“You know the surface.”
She looked at me.
“The money wasn't funding drugs or weapons.”
“What was it funding?”
“Political influence.”
Victor, who had arrived with Natalia and Simon, stepped forward.
“What kind?”