Chapter 4 - The Mole in the Empire
An hour later, Dorian stood in the basement holding facility of the estate. I had insisted on coming down with him, refusing to let him out of my sight after the horror in the medical wing. Caleb held my elbow gently as we stood behind the reinforced one-way glass overlooking the interrogation cell.
Inside the room, tied to a heavy steel chair, was Chef Marcus—a man who had cooked for Dorian’s family for over eight years. His face was bruised, and he was trembling violently as Noah stood behind him with a cold, unblinking glare.
Dorian stepped into the interrogation cell. He didn't carry a weapon. He didn't raise his voice. He simply walked over to Marcus, dragged a chair opposite him, and sat down.
The absolute silence in the room was far more terrifying than any threat.
"Marcus," Dorian said softly, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Eight years. You cooked for my mother before she passed. You cooked for my wife on our wedding night."
"Mr. Cross... please..." Marcus wept, his body shaking. "They... they forced me! I had no choice!"
"Who forced you?" Dorian asked, his voice dead calm.
"A man... he called himself Marco. He works for Viktor Vance," Marcus sobbed. "Two days ago, they kidnapped my daughter from her college dorm in Michigan. They sent me a video of her tied up in a basement. They said if I didn't put the powder into Mrs. Cross's food today, they would send me her hands in a box!"
Dorian's eyes flickered with a dark understanding. He didn't show mercy, but he didn't show mindless rage either. He understood leverage better than anyone alive.
"Where is your daughter being held, Marcus?" Dorian asked softly.
"I don't know! A warehouse near the docks in South Chicago... that's all Marco said!" Marcus cried out. "Please, Mr. Cross! Kill me if you must, but save my daughter! She's innocent!"
Dorian stood up, adjusting his dark suit jacket. He walked toward the exit, pausing at the heavy door.
"Noah," Dorian commanded without turning back. "Keep Marcus secured, but do not harm him. Caleb, get the tactical team ready. We leave for the South Chicago docks in ten minutes."
"Dorian, wait!" I called out, stepping through the observation door into the hallway.
Dorian turned to me, his dark eyes instantly softening. "Alina, you need to be in bed resting."
"You're walking into a trap!" I warned, rushing up to grab his lapels. "Vance used Marcus to poison me, but he knew Marcus would break! He knew Marcus would tell you about the warehouse near the docks! Vance wants you out in the open!"
Dorian placed his large, warm hands over mine. "I know it's a trap, Alina."
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"Then why are you going?!"
"Because Vance made two fatal mistakes," Dorian whispered, a cold, predatory smile spreading across his lips. "First, he threatened an innocent young girl. Second... he made my wife shed tears today. I am going to end this tonight."
