Chapter 8 - The Queen's Gambit
The fire department arrived too late to save the front of Sweet Treats, but they managed to keep the flames from consuming the entire block.
By midnight, the rain had stopped, leaving a cold, damp mist hanging over the ruins of the bakery. Dominic sat in his wheelchair across the street, wrapped in a heavy wool blanket Tony had secured. Nora sat beside him on the curb, her face smeared with soot, her arms wrapped tightly around Leo, who was sleeping fitfully under a fireman's coat.
"I'm sorry, Nora," Dominic said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I brought this to your door. I destroyed your dream."
Nora looked across the street at the charred remains of her shop. The beautiful sign she had painted herself was melted and blackened. But as she turned to look at Dominic, there were no tears in her eyes. Only a cold, fierce determination.
"You didn't destroy my dream, Dominic," she said, her voice steady. "My dream was to build a life for my son where we didn't have to run. And we're not running anymore. We’re going to finish this."
"How?" Dominic asked. "Carmine won't stop until I'm dead."
"Then we make him think he won," Nora said.
Dominic looked at her, his eyes widening as he realized what she was suggesting. "A setup."
"He wants your ledger, right?" Nora asked. "He wants the keys to the harbor. Give them to him. But do it on your terms."
Tony stepped forward from the shadows, his face grim. "Boss, I just got off the phone with our contacts. Carmine’s hiding out at his private estate in the hills. He’s got fifty guys up there. It's a fortress."
"He won't stay in his fortress if he thinks he can get his hands on my offshore accounts," Dominic said, his mind clicking into place like a master chess player. "He knows I’m weak. He thinks the fire broke me. We use that."
Dominic looked at Nora, then down at Leo. "I need you to trust me, Nora. One last time. I’m going to end this tonight. But I need you to go with Tony to a safe house in Jersey. If things go wrong..."
"They won't go wrong," Nora said, leaning over and kissing him gently on the cheek. Her lips were warm against his cold skin. "Because you're Dominic Russo. And you're too stubborn to lose."
Within two hours, the trap was set.
Dominic used his primary burner phone to call Carmine directly.
"Carmine," Dominic said, his voice sounding weak, raspy, and defeated. "You win. The fire... you almost killed the kid. I can't do this anymore. I'm tired of running."
On the other end of the line, Carmine’s laughter was loud and grating. "I told you, Dom! A guy in a wheelchair has no business in this city. Where are you?"
"The warehouse on Pier 4," Dominic whispered. "I have the ledger. I have the keys to the offshore accounts. Come alone, Carmine. Let's finish this like family."
"Alone? Sure, Dom. Whatever you say," Carmine laughed.
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Of course, Carmine wouldn't come alone. He would bring his entire crew to gloat, to witness the final surrender of the king, and to ensure Dominic didn't leave that warehouse alive.
And that was exactly what Dominic wanted.
