Chapter 3 - The Confession in the Vault
The basement of the Vale estate was a subterranean labyrinth of reinforced concrete and high-security servers,Worlds away from the grand,Opulent rooms above.At the end of a long,steel-reinforced corridor lay the vault—a room designed to hold confidential ledgers,untraceable assets,and the darkest secrets of Dominic's syndicate.
Bound to a heavy metal chair in the center of the room sat a man in a black tactical jacket.A nasty bruise was forming along his jawline where Dominic's guards had brought him down.
Dominic walked in slowly,his footsteps echoing off the concrete walls like gunshots.Hannah followed closely behind,keeping a cautious distance.
"Arthur,Dominic said softly,His voice was dangerously quiet."I trusted you with my logistics.I let you into my home."
The captive—Arthur Vance,one of Dominic's most trusted logistics coordinators—lifted his head,spitting a drop of blood onto the floor.A bitter,desperate laugh escaped his lips.
"You're slipping,Dominic"Arthur wheezed.""You've gone soft since Elena died.You think you can run a legitimate empire while raising three brats?The board is tired of your hesitation.They want someone ruthless back at the helm."
Dominic didn't yell.He didn't strike him.He simply stepped closer,the sheer aura of menace radiating from him filled the room until it was hard to breathe.
"Who gave you the clearance codes to the East Garden sector?Dominic asked.
Arthur grinned,His teeth are stained with the least amount of enamel."Check your own inner circle,Vale.The rot isn't just in the logistics department.It's in the family."
Before Dominic could press further,Arthur's body suddenly went rigid.His eyes rolled back.and a thin line of white foam bubbled at the corner of his lips.
"Cyanide capsule,Hannah gasped,lunging forward and grabbing Arthur's jaw to force his mouth open,But it was too late.The man convulsed once and slumped forward,died before he hit the concrete floor.
Dominic stood frozen.staring at the corpse.For the first time,the impenetrable facade cracked.The betrayal wasn't just external; it was systemic.And worse,it meant his children were primary targets.
"Get this body cleaned up," Dominic told his head of security without looking back. He turned to Hannah,his face pale,his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter."You need to leave."Pack your things.I'll have a car take you back to Queens tonight."
Hannah stared at him in disbelief.
"Leave?"" she echoed,Her voice is rising."Mr.Vale,did you not just hear what that man said?The rot is inside your house.Your boys are in mortal danger."
"Exactly,Dominic roared,slamming his hand against the steel wall."Which is why you are not staying here to get caught in the crossfire!You have a daughter,Hannah.Go back to her."
Hannah stood her ground,stepping directly into his personal space,her hazel eyes blazing with an intensity that matched his own.
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"My daughter is safe with Mrs.Ahem.But these three boys have no one except a father who is too busy playing mafia kingpin to notice they're drowning in grief!" Hannah jabbed a finger into his chest."I signed a contract for one week,Dominic.I am not running away just because things got difficult.If you fire me,I'll sit on your front gate until the police drag me away."
Dominic stared down at her,No. 6No one had ever called him by his first name in anger.No one had ever challenged his orders with such fierce,maternal protection for his own flesh and blood.
