Chapter 5 - THE PRICE OF BETRAYAL
Dominic reached out, grabbing Julian by the lapels of his expensive navy suit, and slammed him back against the stone pillar.
"You stole from my grandfather's fund," Dominic growled, his knuckles turning white as he choked his cousin. "You tried to frame my wife. And then you put a sniper on my hill to put a bullet in her head so she couldn't prove her innocence."
"Dominic! Please!" Julian choked out, his eyes bulging in terror. "It wasn't just me! The Moretti family... they promised me control of the docks if I brought down the Relief Fund! They said it would weaken your position with the city council!"
"The Morettis," Dominic repeated softly.
He dropped Julian to the floor like a sack of trash. Julian hit the marble, gasping frantically for air, clutching his throat.
Dominic turned to Marcus. "Take Julian down to the holding cells in the warehouse district. Keep him alive until I finish dealing with the Moretti family."
"No! Dominic! We're blood!" Julian shrieked as Marcus dragged him up by his collar and marched him out the side doors, followed by his disarmed guards.
The silence that returned to the shattered foyer was suffocating.
Dominic stood alone in the center of the room, his shoulders broad, his breathing heavy. The threat had been exposed. His house was secure. The money was back.
He turned slowly to face Claire.
She stood near the staircase, her overnight bag still sitting beside her feet. She had saved his foundation, exposed his traitorous cousin, and proved her absolute innocence without shouting once.
Dominic walked toward her, every step heavy with the crushing weight of his shame.
He stopped three feet away from her. He reached into his pocket, pulled out her diamond wedding ring, and looked down at it.
"Claire," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I don't even know how to ask for your forgiveness."
Claire looked at the ring, then looked up into the dark, tormented eyes of the mafia boss who had ruled the city with fear, but now stood broken before her.
"You don't get to ask for forgiveness tonight, Dominic," Claire said softly, her voice filled with a quiet, profound sadness. "Because you didn't just doubt my honesty. You broke my heart."
She picked up her overnight bag.
"Where are you going?" Dominic begged, his hand reaching out, though he didn't dare touch her.
"To a hotel," Claire said. "And if you send your men to follow me, Dominic, I swear to God I will leave Chicago and you will never see me again."
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Dominic closed his eyes as a single tear escaped, cutting through the dirt and blood on his cheek.
He stepped aside and let her walk out the door.
