Chapter 13 - The Trap Set
The air inside the Manhattan penthouse turned glacial. The silence that followed Dante’s report was heavier than any boardroom standoff or midnight shootout.
Marcus. They were coming for Marcus.
My breath caught in my throat, a sudden, blinding wave of maternal terror surging through my veins with the force of a tidal wave. All the power, all the elegant suits, all the multi-million-dollar logistics plans vanished instantly in the face of that single, horrific threat. My son was a target.
"Trace the transfer," Dominic commanded, his voice like cracking ice, devoid of all human warmth yet vibrating with a terrifying, contained fury. "Find out who authorized the Syracuse payout and where their advance team is currently positioned."
"Already on it," Dante replied over the secure line. "My surveillance teams have locked onto three high-end blacked-out SUVs moving north across the George Washington Bridge right now. ETA to the Manhattan estate is twenty minutes."
"Let them through the perimeter," Dominic said quietly, a grim, razor-sharp smile touching the corner of his mouth. "Do not engage them on the streets. Let them think the security grid is compromised. Lure them straight into the underground garage levels."
"Understood, Boss. Setting the trap now."
The line clicked dead.
I stood frozen near the window, my hands trembling slightly as I gripped the fabric of my trousers. Dominic turned away from the coffee table, crossing the room in three massive strides until he stood directly in front of me. He grabbed my shoulders, his grip firm, anchoring me against the rising panic threatening to swallow me whole.
"Look at me, Clara," Dominic commanded, his voice low and absolute.
I forced my eyes up to meet his. In the slate-gray depths of his gaze, there was no fear—only an immovable, ancient wall of lethal protection.
"They will never touch him," Dominic promised, each word falling like a drop of molten lead. "To get to Marcus, they have to go through me. And there is nothing left of the man they think they can break."
"I'm coming with you," I said, my voice shaking with adrenaline, yet stubborn and unyielding. "I'm not sitting in a panic room while men hunt my son. I helped build this empire, Dominic. Let me help defend it."
Dominic stared at me for a long, intense moment, searching my face for any sign of hesitation. When he found none, a fierce, dark respect flared in his eyes. He reached behind his back, unclipped a sleek, customized tactical sidearm from his harness, and handed it to me handle-first.
"Safety is off," Dominic instructed calmly, guiding my fingers around the checkered grip. "Aim for center mass. Don't hesitate."
May you like
I nodded, gripping the cold metal of the weapon with both hands. Together, we turned away from the glittering Manhattan skyline and headed for the private service elevator that descended into the subterranean belly of the beast.
***
