Chapter 7 - The Shadow Council
By four o'clock in the morning, the private jet landed at a secluded airfield on the outskirts of Chicago.
An armored black SUV sat waiting on the rain-slicked tarmac. Dominic escorted Alina and Maisie into the rear seat, while Frank took the front passenger seat with two heavily armed bodyguards.
They drove through the quiet, wet streets of downtown Chicago, stopping before a majestic gray-stone building—the private Swiss Security Vault of the Midwest.
The building was dark, illuminated by yellow streetlights reflecting off the wet pavement.
Dominic led his team through the heavy bronze entrance doors. Two private vault guards in dark suits bowed their heads in deep respect as the legendary Don entered the marble lobby.
They descended into the subterranean vault level, stopping before a massive, twelve-ton spherical steel door marked VAULT 09.
Dominic stepped up to the dual control panel. He inserted the small silver key Maisie had recovered into the top slot, then pressed his broad thumb against the biometric scanner.
The console chimed with a deep, resonant tone.
KEY ACCEPTED. BIOMETRIC MATCH CONFIRMED: DOMINIC CARBONE.
The massive steel locking bolts retracted with a loud metallic CLACK-CLACK-CLACK, and the colossal vault door slowly swung open on hydraulic hinges.
Inside sat a brightly lit sanctuary. Racks of secure digital servers hummed along the walls, while in the center of the room sat a single glass display case holding a heavy iron box wrapped in red silk.
Dominic walked inside, his heavy shoes sounding hollow against the steel floor. He reached out, lifting the glass dome, and pulled the iron box into the light.
He opened the brass latch.
Inside lay the complete, original medical file from Saint Jude Memorial, alongside two sealed glass vials containing preserved blood samples from seven years ago.
On top of the files lay a fresh, handwritten note dated three days ago.
Dominic unfolded the paper. As his eyes scanned the text, a cold, terrifying shock rushed through his veins.
May you like
The note read:
Dominic—Veronica and Julian are coming for the child tonight. They hired the Syndicate Elders to invalidate your title. Meet me at the lakehouse before sunrise. — Sofia.
