Chapter 4 - The Shadow War
CRACK.
The sound of cartilage exploding was instantaneous.
Victor let out a high-pitched, agonizing shriek as his right leg buckled beneath him. His balance shattered, his center of gravity collapsed, and his suppressed pistol discharged wildly into the ceiling plaster as he fell sideways.
Dominic didn't waste a millisecond.
He lunged across the bedroom, catching Victor by the throat before the man hit the floorboards. The momentum carried both men against the heavy oak vanity. Dominic drove his elbow violently into Victor’s face once, twice, three times, until the traitor’s hands dropped limply to the floor and his weapon skidded away into the darkness.
Dominic stood over his former security chief, breathing heavily, his knuckles dripping with blood. He reached down, grabbed Victor by his lapels, and dragged his semi-conscious body toward the center of the room.
Evelyn stepped through the doorway, her suppressed rifle covering the hall behind her. She looked at Victor lying bleeding on the carpet, then at Grace, who was standing tall, holding her baton, her breathing fast and steady.
A small, proud smile touched Evelyn’s lips. "Form was a little low on the strike, Grace, but the leverage was excellent."
Grace let out a ragged breath, a small, triumphant smile breaking through her fear. "I listened for his weight shift."
"You did perfect, sweetheart," Dominic said, dropping to his knees and pulling Grace into a tight, desperate embrace. He buried his face in her hair, his body trembling with a sudden flood of relief and profound shame. "You did perfect. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't believe you."
"Dad," Grace whispered, wrapping her small arms around his neck. "I told you. I don't want to be buried alive anymore."
"You won't be," Dominic vowed, kissing the top of her head. "Never again."
Evelyn knelt beside Victor, reaching into his suit jacket and pulling out a satellite phone, a set of encrypted flash drives, and a slip of paper containing a list of meeting coordinates.
"The assault team downstairs was just a distraction," Evelyn said, checking the screen of the satellite phone. "Victor was supposed to secure Grace, execute you, and meet Don Paul Valenti at the private airfield in Waukegan in forty-five minutes. They have a Gulfstream waiting to take them to a safe haven in Zurich."
Dominic stood up, his posture transforming back into the cold, terrifying ruler of the Chicago lakefront. He looked down at Victor, who was groaning on the floor, clutching his broken knee.
"Lev is dead," Dominic said coldly. "Marco is dead. Four of my men downstairs are dead because of this parasite."
"Then we don't let his plan fail," Evelyn said, looking up at Dominic. "We give Don Valenti exactly what he's waiting for."
Dominic looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Valenti is sitting at that airfield right now, waiting for Victor's confirmation text," Evelyn explained, her eyes flashing with tactical brilliance. "He thinks he's won. He thinks Caruso Global is dead, your family is broken, and his empire is about to take the ports."
She handed Dominic the satellite phone.
"We take Victor’s car," Evelyn said softly. "We take your daughter. We bring the evidence. And we show the Valenti family what happens when they touch a Marine’s bloodline."
Dominic looked down at Grace. "It's dangerous, Evelyn."
"Dad," Grace said, touching his sleeve, her voice steady and clear. "We fight together now. No more cages."
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Dominic looked at his daughter, then at Evelyn. For the first time in five years, the heavy, crushing weight of fear left his chest, replaced by an iron determination that burned hotter than gasoline.
"Get the gear," Dominic commanded. "We’re going to Waukegan."
