Chapter 5 - The Snake's Last Strike
Three days later, the rain had finally cleared, leaving behind a crisp, sunny autumn afternoon that painted the Lake Michigan shoreline in brilliant hues of gold and amber.
Dominic’s recovery progressed at a speed that astonished even his new chief medical specialist, a renowned orthopedic surgeon from Johns Hopkins named Dr. Evelyn Carter. With the sabotaged tension plate corrected and proper physical therapy resumed, Dominic was walking without a cane for long stretches around the estate’s grand stone terraces.
However, the war for the Vale empire was not entirely over.
Inside the high-security holding facility downtown, Arthur Voss had refused to speak to federal prosecutors unless he was granted a private meeting with Dominic.
At 3:00 PM, Dominic walked into the sterile interrogation room of the Chicago Federal Building, flanked by Vincent Hale.
Arthur Voss sat across the metal table, wearing an orange jumpsuit, his hands handcuffed to an anchor loop on the steel surface. His silver hair was disheveled, and dark purple circles bruised the skin beneath his hollow eyes.
“Dominic,” Arthur rasped, his voice rough and dry. “You came.”
Dominic sat down in the steel chair opposite him, crossing his long legs comfortably. “You have five minutes, Arthur. Make them count.”
Arthur leaned forward as far as his chains allowed, his eyes gleaming with a desperate, malicious light. “You think you’ve won, don't you? You think catching me and locking me in a cage resolves everything.”
“Your assets have been seized, your loyalists in the police department have been arrested, and the council has unanimously voted to liquidate your shares,” Dominic said calmly. “I’d say the resolution is fairly complete.”
Arthur let out a harsh, mocking laugh. “You missed someone, Dominic. Someone who doesn't care about council votes or court orders.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Speak clearly.”
“Marcus Kane,” Arthur whispered, grinning wickedly. “The Detroit syndicate boss. I didn't just plan to take your empire, Dominic... I sold him the security routes to your Lake Michigan property three weeks ago. Kane doesn't care if I’m in prison. He wants the Vale shipping lanes, and he knows the only thing holding your organization together right now is you.”
Vincent took a step forward, his hand moving to his sidearm, but Dominic held up a calm hand.
“Kane won't attack the estate,” Dominic reasoned coolly. “The perimeter is locked down with forty armed guards and federal surveillance.”
Arthur’s grin widened into something truly terrifying. “He isn't attacking the estate, Dominic. He knows you’re here downtown today. And he knows your new estate manager and her daughter went to the pediatric clinic on Michigan Avenue an hour ago.”
Dominic’s blood ran cold.
The composure he had maintained for three days shattered in an instant. He stood up so violently his chair slammed backward onto the concrete floor with a deafening crash.
“Vincent!” Dominic roared.
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“I’m on it!” Vincent barked into his tactical radio, sprinting out of the interrogation room toward the elevators. “All units, red alert! Secure the convoy at Northwestern Pediatric Clinic immediately!”
Arthur Voss leaned back against his chair, laughing hysterically as the heavy steel door slammed shut behind them.
