Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Uncovered
Within three hours, Elena was safely installed in a penthouse-grade private suite at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Surrounded by state-of-the-art medical equipment, round-the-clock nurses, and global specialists, her condition was stabilized.
Meanwhile, Lucy was fast asleep in the adjacent private room, tucked into a plush bed under the watchful eye of two elite guards.
In the suite’s private sitting room, Dominic stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the Manhattan skyline. The storm had passed, leaving behind a crisp, cold night.
Marcus knocked softly and entered, holding a thick leather folder.
“You have the investigation results?” Dominic asked, his voice returning to its icy, dangerous tone.
“Yes, sir,” Marcus said, looking unusually grim. “We audited the security archives from eight years ago, back when you were fighting the Moretti syndicate for control of the docks. We traced the forged photographs and the intercepted phone calls.”
Dominic turned slowly. “Who was it?”
Marcus swallowed hard. “It was Arthur Vance.”
Dominic’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched beneath his scar. Arthur Vance was Dominic’s underboss—his right-hand man for over fifteen years, a man he had trusted with his life.
“Why?” Dominic asked softly.
“Vance was secretly taking kickbacks from Victor Moretti,” Marcus explained, opening the file. “Moretti knew that if you settled down with Elena, you were planning to clean up the business, go fully legitimate, and step away from the street violence. Vance didn't want you to go legit. He wanted the syndicate to stay bloody so he could keep skimming off the extortion money. So Vance fabricated the photos showing Elena meeting with her brother, made it look like an affair with a Moretti lieutenant, and deleted every voicemail she left you.”
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the room.
Dominic felt a cold, murderous fury burning in his gut. For eight years, he had lived in an emotional wasteland. For eight years, his daughter had lived without a father, and Elena had struggled in poverty while battling a life-threatening illness—all because of Arthur Vance’s greed.
“Where is Arthur right now?” Dominic asked smoothly.
“He’s at the private club in Midtown, sir. Celebrating a shipment arriving from the docks.”
Dominic straightened his tie and adjusted his cufflinks. “Stay here with Elena and Lucy. Double the guard detail. If anyone so much as looks at them the wrong way, put a bullet in their head.”
“Understood, boss,” Marcus bowed his head. “What should I tell Vance if he calls?”
May you like
Dominic smiled—a terrifying, predatory smile that contained no warmth whatsoever.
“Tell him I’m coming to collect an eight-year-old debt.”
