Chapter 5
The name Victor Bancroft brought a sudden, lethal chill to the air.
Dominic stood up smoothly from his chair, his tall, muscular frame radiating an instant, terrifying threat. The dragon tattoo on his knuckles flexed as he buttoned his shirt cuffs.
"Bancroft," Dominic growled. "How did he find out so fast?"
"One of the restaurant hostesses was on Bancroft’s payroll," Marco explained, checking his sidearm. "She recognized the silver pendant when Nico pulled it out. She texted Bancroft's enforcers five minutes ago before my men caught her."
Mara gasped, her hands instinctively tightening around baby Nico. The infant stirred, his bright blue eyes fluttering open as he sensed the sudden surge of adrenaline in the room.
"What does this mean?" Mara asked, her voice rising in panic. "Who is Victor Bancroft?"
"He is the senior captain of the council's internal security," Dominic answered coldly, drawing a sleek black sidearm from his shoulder holster. "He’s the man who executed my father's dirty orders twenty-five years ago. If he’s here, he knows Elena's bloodline is alive, and he’s come to finish what he started."
"No... please!" Mara sobbed, tears spilling down her rosy cheeks. "Don't bring guns around the baby!"
Dominic stepped between her chair and the door, his broad shoulders completely shielding her from sight. He turned his head, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an unbreakable, protective intensity.
"Listen to me, Mara," Dominic commanded, his voice deep and absolute. "Nico stays with you. Marco will stay in this room with three guards. The doors are reinforced steel behind the mahogany paneling. No one enters this room unless it is me."
"Dominic, don't leave us!" Mara pleaded, using his first name for the first time.
Dominic offered her a rare, faint touch of warmth in his eyes. "I'm not leaving you, Mara. I'm going to clear the hallway so we can go home."
He looked at Marco. "If anyone breaches that door, kill them without hesitation."
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"On my life, boss," Marco promised, bringing his weapon up to a high-ready position.
Dominic turned and stepped through the double doors, his black leather shoes clicking with heavy authority as he walked out into the gilded main hall of Ristorante Bellagio to face the coming storm.
