Chapter 3 - The Debt of the House
"You're calling the police?" Dominic asked softly, turning around. His tone was almost conversational, yet terrifying. "Because a injured child was rescued behind your building?"
Burkett swallowed hard, stepping back toward the kitchen door. "I—I don't want no trouble. Mina, you're fired for letting strangers in after hours. Leave the keys."
Mina’s breath caught. She had less than two hundred dollars in her bank account. Without this job, she couldn't pay rent next week. "Burkett, please—"
"She isn't fired," Dominic said calmly. He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek silver pen and a personalized checkbook. "How much is this dump worth?"
Burkett blinked. "What?"
"Name a price," Dominic commanded. "For the diner. Right now."
"It's... it's not for sale! The owner is my uncle—"
"Fifty thousand dollars over market value," Dominic interrupted, signing his name with a crisp flourish. He tore the check off and slapped it against Burkett’s chest. "Call your uncle. Tell him Callahan’s has a new owner. And you are trespassing."
Marco stepped forward, grabbing Burkett by the collar of his jacket and casually dragging him toward the exit. Burkett didn't say another word; he took the check, scrambled through the snow, and disappeared into the night.
Dominic turned back to Mina, who was staring at him in disbelief. "You don't have to worry about your job anymore, Miss Reyes."
"I... I can't accept this," Mina stammered. "I just did what anyone would do."
"No," Dominic said, looking down at his son, who was now fast asleep, exhausted. "Most people would have kept walking or called the police, which would have put my son in immediate danger. You followed instructions. You protected him."
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He picked Ezra up carefully in his arms, wrapping the boy in his own designer coat.
"Tomorrow morning, a car will come to your apartment," Dominic stated. "We have much to discuss."
