Chapter 5 - the messenger from chicago
By three in the morning, a thick coastal fog had rolled over the mansion grounds, wrapping the surrounding iron gates in a heavy gray mist.
Inside the mansion’s subterranean interrogation vault, Dr. Harris sat strapped to a heavy iron chair, his glasses crooked, weeping as he answered Dominic’s questions.
Dominic stood near the shadow of the concrete wall, sipping cold water from a tumbler. Beside him stood his chief enforcer, reviewing encryption logs on an electronic tablet.
"The man who brought the silver box to Boston... what was his name?" Dominic asked, his voice steady, carrying no emotion.
"He... he called himself Vance," Dr. Harris sobbed, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "He runs the regional enforcement arm for the Chicago Syndicate! He told me Victor was already on their payroll, but they needed someone with medical access to deliver the actual compound into the kitchen without triggering the food testers!"
"And where is Vance now?" Dominic asked.
"He’s... he’s staying at the Grand Harbour Hotel in downtown Manhattan," Dr. Harris confessed, his voice breaking. "He’s waiting for the news of Ethan's... of the event... so he can trigger the secondary takeover plan!"
Dominic set his glass tumbler down on a stone ledge. "Vincent."
His chief enforcer stepped forward. "Yes, Boss?"
"Take Team One to the Grand Harbour Hotel. Bring Vance here alive," Dominic commanded coldly. "And send Team Two to Boston. I want Dr. Harris's daughter secured and brought to our safe house before sunrise."
Vincent nodded curtly, pulling his sidearm from its holster to check the chamber before walking out the heavy vault door.
Dominic turned back to look at the weeping physician. "You tried to murder my eight-year-old son, Harris. In my world, that blood debt can never be forgiven. But because you gave me Vance... your daughter will live."
Dominic walked out of the vault, leaving the heavy iron door to lock automatically behind him.
He walked up the winding stone staircase toward the residential quarters. As he passed the second-floor balcony, he saw Lily’s mother standing near the wide bay window overlooking the foggy courtyard. She was wrapped in a woolen shawl over her maid uniform, looking out into the dark night with deep worry etched across her fair, rosy face.
"He won't hurt anyone ever again, Clare," Dominic said softly, stepping up beside her.
May you like
Clare turned, her soft brown eyes filled with profound emotion. "Mr. Moretti... I can't stop thinking about what would have happened if Lily hadn't run out at that exact second."
Dominic looked out at the thick fog covering his estate. "Your daughter saved my bloodline tonight, Clare. And in the Moretti family, we protect those who protect us."
