Chapter 6 - The Viper’s Trap
The threat materialized sooner than anyone expected.
Two days later, Arthur expressed a strong desire to visit the grave of his late wife, Eleanor, at St. Mary’s Cemetery on the city's West Side. It was an annual tradition Arthur had kept for four years, and despite the heightened security protocols, Dominic agreed, knowing how much it meant to his father's mental peace.
Marco arranged a five-vehicle armored motorcade. Dominic personally accompanied Chloe and Arthur in the lead bulletproof SUV.
The visit to the quiet, snow-covered cemetery was peaceful. Arthur placed a bundle of fresh white roses on Eleanor’s headstone, whispering quiet prayers while Chloe stood respectfully beside him, holding his arm. Dominic stood twenty feet back, his dark eyes constantly scanning the surrounding treeline.
As they returned to the motorcade, a sudden loud screech of tires echoed down the quiet access road.
A massive, heavy-duty utility truck blew through the cemetery gates, slamming directly into the trailing security SUV with a violent CRASH of twisting metal and shattering glass!
"AMBUSH!" Marco roared into his radio, pulling his sidearm instantly. "Get the Boss and the girl out of here!"
Before the lead vehicle could accelerate, two black sedans swerved across the narrow road, blocking the exit entirely. Armed men in ski masks spilled out of the sedans, opening fire on the motorcade with automatic weapons!
Bullets peppered the bulletproof glass of Dominic’s SUV with loud, deafening thuds.
Arthur let out a terrified cry, clutching his chest.
"Get down!" Dominic ordered, throwing his heavy body over Chloe and Arthur, completely shielding them with his own frame as bullets hailed against the vehicle’s reinforced frame.
Chloe clutched Arthur close, her heart pounding violently in her throat, her body pressed firmly against Dominic’s chest. She could smell his expensive cologne, feel the rapid, controlled thud of his heartbeat, and feel the incredible strength of his arm locking her safely beneath him.
"Marco! Flank left!" Dominic commanded into his lapel comms, pulling a sleek black handgun from his shoulder holster.
With incredible precision, Dominic opened his side door just three inches, firing three rapid, perfectly aimed shots through the gap. Two of the masked attackers collapsed into the snow, their weapons falling from their hands.
Dominic’s security team responded with overwhelming, disciplined firepower. Within ninety seconds, the ambush was ruthlessly suppressed. Four attackers lay immobilized in the snow, while the remaining sedans reversed at high speed, fleeing into the city traffic.
Dominic slammed the door shut, turning instantly to Chloe and Arthur. His eyes searched her face frantically. "Chloe! Are you hit?! Are you hurt?!"
"I'm... I'm okay," Chloe gasped, checking Arthur, who was pale and panting but completely unharmed. "Dominic... you're bleeding!"
Chloe pointed at his upper left arm. A bullet had grazed the heavy fabric of his wool coat, slicing through the leather beneath and leaving a dark crimson stain on his sleeve.
Dominic barely glanced at his wound. He grabbed Chloe’s face in both of his large hands, his thumb softly tracing her cheekbone, his gray eyes burning with an intense, wild relief.
May you like
"I don't care about the arm," Dominic growled softly, his breath hot against her lips. "If anything had happened to you..."
He didn't finish the sentence. He pulled her flush against his chest, burying his face in her hair, holding her so tightly she could barely breathe. In that terrifying, blood-soaked moment, Chloe knew with absolute certainty that Dominic Russo would burn the world to keep her safe.
