Chapter 6 - The Trap Sprung
The air in the office instantly turned electric with tension. Gideon and the four Orsini soldiers raised their weapons, creating a standoff in the small room.
Dominic stood in front of Evelyn, his broad shoulders completely blocking her from the sight of the gunmen.
"Roland," Dominic said calmly, his hand resting on his gun butt. "I wondered when you'd creep out of your hole."
"I didn't creep, Dominic," Blackwood laughed smoothly. "Vincent invited me. You see, we knew someone opened the safe in Mateo's room last night. Vincent noticed the security camera loop was off by three seconds this morning."
Vincent grinned wickedly from behind Blackwood. "You thought you were smart, Dominic. But you got soft. You started bringing maids into your private business."
Vincent’s eyes flicked past Dominic’s shoulder, locking onto Evelyn.
"And look at that," Vincent mocked. "The chubby maid looks real pretty in black. Did you think she was going to save your empire, Dominic?"
Dominic didn't lose his temper. Instead, a slow, terrifying smile spread across his face.
"Vincent," Dominic said quietly. "Did you really think I didn't know you noticed the camera loop?"
Vincent’s smile faded slightly. "What?"
Dominic pulled a small detonator switch from his pocket.
"Gideon," Dominic commanded. "Now."
Gideon hit a button on his wrist comm.
Downstairs in the main electrical grid room, the charges Gideon’s squad had planted five minutes earlier detonated with a low BOOM.
The entire building was plunged into pitch-black darkness.
Screams erupted from the nightclub downstairs. Inside the office, night-vision goggles snapped down over the eyes of Gideon’s squad instantly.
THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!
Suppressed gunfire shattered the darkness. Blackwood’s mercenaries dropped before they could even locate their targets in the dark.
Vincent shrieked in panic, firing blindly into the room as he scrambled backward into the hallway.
Dominic lunged through the dark, tracking Vincent by the muzzle flash. He grabbed Vincent by the collar, dragging him out into the hallway and slamming him violently against the marble wall.
"Dominic! Please!" Vincent begged, dropping his gun as the backup emergency red lights flickered on, illuminating Dominic's vengeful face. "It was Blackwood! He forced me! He threatened my family!"
"You tried to murder my brother," Dominic growled, his hand tightening around Vincent’s throat until the traitor’s face turned blue. "You called him a lost cause. You spat in his room."
Behind them, Blackwood was tackled to the floor by Gideon, handcuffed, and dragged away.
Dominic pulled his pistol, pressing the barrel directly between Vincent’s eyes.
"Wait!" a voice called out.
Dominic paused, glancing back. Evelyn stood in the doorway of the office, looking at him.
"Dominic," she said softly, walking over to him. "Don't ruin your life for him. Let the law take what's left of him. The ledgers are enough to put him in maximum security for three lifetimes."
Dominic looked at Vincent, who was blubbering and weeping on his knees, completely stripped of his arrogance.
Dominic lowered his gun, but brought his heavy fist across Vincent’s jaw, knocking him out cold onto the carpet.
"Gideon," Dominic ordered, turning away. "Hand him and Blackwood over to the federal authorities along with copy of those ledgers. Let them rot in a federal pen."
"Right away, Don Dominic," Gideon smiled, hauling the unconscious traitor away.
Dominic walked up to Evelyn. He looked her over, checking every inch of her body. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," she smiled, her breath ragged. "We did it, Dominic."
Dominic looked at her—this extraordinary woman who had walked into his life carrying a single suitcase and transformed his entire world.
May you like
He reached out, pulling her into his arms, crushing her against his chest in a fierce, desperate hug. Evelyn wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder, feeling the deep, steady beat of his heart against her cheek.
"Thank you," Dominic whispered into her hair. "Thank you, Evelyn."
