Chapter 5 - A Threat in the Dark
Before Dominic could leave the penthouse, the security alarms began to blare.
The lights in the sprawling apartment flickered and died, plunging the rooms into absolute darkness. Only the emergency backup lights cast a faint, eerie red glow across the marble floors.
"Dominic!" Grace’s terrified scream echoed from the kitchen.
Dominic drew his weapon from his holster in a fluid, practiced motion. "Marcus, guard the stairwell! They’re inside!"
Dominic rushed to the kitchen. He found Grace huddled in a corner, holding a crying Lucy tightly against her chest.
"Stay down!" Dominic ordered, positioning his large frame between them and the doorway.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. Two masked men armed with silenced pistols stepped into the light. Without hesitation, Dominic fired. The first man collapsed, his weapon clattering to the floor. The second man returned fire, a bullet splintering the wooden cabinet inches from Grace’s head.
Dominic ducked, rolling across the floor, and fired two rapid shots, neutralizing the second intruder.
But before he could breathe, a cold voice echoed from the dark hallway.
"Drop the gun, Dominic."
Victor Shaw stepped into the red light. He wasn't wearing his usual tailored suit; instead, he was in tactical gear, holding a high-caliber pistol aimed directly at Dominic’s chest. Behind him, two more armed men flanked the entrance.
"You always were too smart for your own good, Wolf," Victor sneered. "But you got soft. The moment you let this cleaning lady and her brat into your house, I knew you were finished."
"You forged the test, Victor," Dominic said, keeping his voice steady, his eyes scanning the room for any tactical advantage. "You betrayed the family. My father trusted you."
"Your father is dead, and you've been running this empire like a charity," Victor spat. "We could have owned the entire East Coast by now. But you wanted a family. You wanted nurseries and yellow paint. It made me sick. I did you a favor, Dominic. I showed you how weak you really are."
Victor raised his weapon, his finger tightening on the trigger. "Now, it’s time for a new king."
Suddenly, a small object flew through the air, striking Victor square in the eye. It was Lucy’s heavy, silver-taped pink backpack, packed to the brim with textbooks.
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"Leave him alone!" Lucy screamed.
Victor stumbled back, cursing as he clutched his eye. The distraction was only a fraction of a second, but for Dominic Vale, a fraction of a second was a lifetime.
