Chapter 6 - The Gathering Storm
Despite the quiet victory at the rehabilitation center, peace in Dominic Vale’s world was always a fleeting commodity.
Two weeks after Charles Ellery’s breakdown at the gate, a new threat emerged from the east.
Dominic sat in his private study at his downtown penthouse, staring at a set of surveillance photographs spread across his dark oak desk.
Emma walked into the room carrying two mugs of coffee. She glanced at the photos and froze.
The pictures showed a sleek, silver yacht docked at the San Diego marina, bearing a crest that made her blood run cold: a golden serpent coiled around a dagger.
"Who is that?" Emma asked, setting the mugs down and picking up one of the photographs.
"Victor Vance," Dominic said, his jaw tight. "The current head of the Chicago Syndicate. My father’s former associate... and the man who helped cover up my mother's death thirty years ago."
Emma felt a chill run down her spine. "Why is he in San Diego?"
"He heard about the Ellery deal," Dominic explained, grabbing her hand and pulling her down to sit on his lap. "Victor doesn't like that I’ve gone entirely legitimate. He doesn't like that Vale Harbor Group controls sixty percent of the commercial shipping lanes on the West Coast without paying tribute to the Chicago families. He’s here to demand a cut of the new harbor developments."
"And if you refuse?"
Dominic’s eyes hardened. "Victor doesn't take 'no' for an answer. He operates the old way. Threaten family, leverage debt, burn down what he can't buy."
Emma wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tight. "You're not twelve years old anymore, Dominic. You have the law on your side now. You have Marcus, you have the foundation, you have..."
"I have you," Dominic whispered, burying his face in her neck, breathing in the scent of jasmine and rain. "And that makes me vulnerable, Emma. Victor knows about you. He knows about Grace."
Emma pulled back, looking straight into his dark eyes without a trace of fear. "Then let him come. We fought the Ellerys together. We’ll fight him together."
Dominic looked at her—this woman who had stepped over three hundred dollars in the mud rather than sell her pride—and felt an overwhelming surge of love and fierce protection.
"Marcus!" Dominic called out toward the doorway.
May you like
Marcus stepped into the study instantly. "Yes, Boss?"
"Set up twenty-four-hour security details for Grace at the rehab facility," Dominic ordered. "And double the guard at the harbor office. Victor Vance thinks he’s coming to a dinner party. Let's make sure he finds a trap."
