Chapter 8
The chilling words hung in the bright, cinematic air of the ballroom. Dominic’s expression remained terrifyingly neutral, but a dark, violent storm was brewing behind his pale eyes. He grabbed Vincenzo by the lapels of his dark jacket, lifting the man effortlessly until his toes barely touched the polished marble floor.
"Explain yourself," Dominic growled, the calm facade finally cracking to reveal the lethal predator beneath. "What is the rest of the plan?"
Vincenzo choked, struggling to breathe against the tight grip on his collar. "The poison... the poison was just a quiet way to do it. If the boy died of a sudden heart attack, there would be no lockdown. No guns drawn. We could walk right out the front door in the confusion."
"But he didn't eat it," Dominic stated, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "The plan failed."
Vincenzo let out another choked, desperate laugh. "Did it? You locked the doors, Dominic. You put all your loyal men in one room to protect the guests. You isolated yourself."
Dominic’s mind raced, processing the tactical nightmare unfolding. Vincenzo was right. By sealing the ballroom and pulling his inner circle inward to manage the poisoning threat, he had left the rest of the massive mansion largely undefended. He had effectively trapped himself, his son, and his most loyal personnel in a gilded cage.
Dominic dropped Vincenzo, letting the traitor crumple to the marble floor. "Secure him. Gag him. If he makes a sound, break his jaw."
The guards immediately complied, dragging Vincenzo to the corner of the room.
Dominic turned back to the center of the ballroom. He looked at Ethan, who was standing bravely by the table, trying not to show his fear. He looked at Dr. Harris, who was already packing away his medical kit, sensing the impending escalation. Finally, Dominic looked at Elena and Lily.
Elena was holding her daughter incredibly tight, her soft brown hair falling over her terrified face. She was a hardworking, loyal housekeeper, completely unequipped for the violent war that had just erupted in her workplace.
"Elena," Dominic said, walking over to her. His commanding presence softened slightly, recognizing the sheer terror in her eyes. "You and Lily need to get behind the main dining table. Keep Ethan with you. Do not move from that spot, no matter what you hear."
"Mr. Moretti, what is going to happen?" Elena asked, her voice trembling. "Are there more of them?"
"I am going to ensure that nobody in this room gets hurt," Dominic promised, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He looked down at the tiny girl in the yellow dress. Lily was watching him, her bright observant eyes missing nothing. "Lily, you are the bravest girl I have ever met. But now, it’s my turn to be brave. Keep your mother and Ethan safe for me, okay?"
Lily nodded solemnly. "Okay, Mr. Dominic."
Elena quickly ushered Ethan and Lily behind the massive, thick oak dining table, creating a makeshift barricade.
Dominic turned to his remaining loyal guards. The men with the gold falcon pins stood at attention, their weapons drawn, waiting for their Boss’s command.
"Check your weapons. Check your comms," Dominic ordered smoothly, drawing a sleek, custom-fitted handgun from the holster beneath his white suit jacket. The metal glinted menacingly under the chandeliers. "If Vincenzo wasn't the only traitor, they are going to try and breach this room to finish the job."
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One of the guards tapped his earpiece, his fair skin paling. "Boss... external comms are down. We have no radio contact with the perimeter security or the front gate."
Dominic’s jaw tightened, his light stubble bristling. "They’ve jammed the frequencies. They are already inside."
