Chapter 6 - The Trap is Set
Over the next six days, the Hale Estate in Greenwich was transformed into a fortress disguised as a fairy-tale wedding venue.
To the outside world, preparations for the wedding of the decade were proceeding with breathtaking extravagance. Florists delivered thousands of white orchids and cream roses; caterers set up massive white silk pavilions across the sprawling green lawns; and news crews parked outside the high iron security gates, reporting on the impending union between the mysterious shipping magnate and his beautiful fiancée.
Behind the scenes, however, a quiet, deadly military operation was underway.
In the basement command center, Dominic, Vance, and a team of retired elite special forces contractors mapped out every inch of the estate.
“Vance’s informants inside the local precinct confirmed that Arthur has hired forty heavily armed mercenaries,” Vance explained, pointing to a 3D digital blueprint of the estate grounds on the central monitor. “They plan to use heavy transport trucks to ram the main south gates at 4:00 p.m. during the exchange of vows. At the same time, a secondary squad will land a speed-boat at the private dock on the river to cut off your escape route.”
Claire, who had spent the week nursing her sister Paige back to full health inside the main house, stepped into the command room carrying coffee for the team.
“What about Jack Mercer?” Claire asked, sitting beside Dominic.
“Jack gave us the master encryption keys to Arthur Vance’s financial network yesterday,” Dominic replied, putting an arm around Claire’s waist. “Gavin, our chief tech strategist, has spent the last forty-eight hours quietly draining Arthur Vance’s offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. By the time Arthur reaches our south gates tomorrow, he won't just be facing my guns—he’ll be completely bankrupt.”
Claire smiled softly, resting her hand over Dominic’s. “And what about little Lily and her mother?”
“I sent Lily and Mrs. Parker to my private villa in St. Thomas three days ago,” Dominic said gently. “They’re sitting on a white sand beach right now, guarded by four of my best men. Lily did her job. She saved our lives. Now it’s time for us to finish this.”
That evening, the eve of their wedding, Dominic and Claire stood together on the second-floor balcony of the mansion, looking down over the sunlit gardens.
The rain from earlier in the week had cleared, leaving behind a crisp, golden autumn sky. The white silk pavilions rustled gently in the cool breeze, looking pristine, peaceful, and entirely deceptive.
Claire leaned her back against Dominic’s chest, feeling the deep, steady beat of his heart against her shoulders.
“Are you scared, Dominic?” she asked quietly.
Dominic wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her hair, breathing in her scent. “I spent ten years believing that power meant standing alone, Claire. I thought having a heart made a man weak in this business. But when I thought I was going to lose you... when I saw you on your knees in my study begging me to shoot you to save your sister... I realized what real strength is.”
He turned her in his arms, his gray eyes shining with an intense, burning devotion.
May you like
“Tomorrow,” Dominic whispered, “we clear the board. And then we build a life where no one ever threatens us again.”
Claire raised her chin, pressing her lips to his in a deep, passionate kiss that sealed their unspoken pact. “Tomorrow, my love.”
