Chapter 7 - The Traitor
Claire stared at the glowing screen of her phone, her hands trembling violently.
Wade had completely abandoned them three years ago, leaving her drowning in massive debt.
Now, he was trying to use a child's precious toy to lure her into a deadly trap.
Dorian noticed the sheer panic on her face and walked quickly across the room.
He gently took the phone from her shaking hands and read the sinister message.
His gray eyes darkened instantly with an intense, terrifying fury.
"You are not going anywhere," Dorian stated with absolute authority.
"He has her bear," Claire whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
"Maddie cannot sleep without it, and she has already lost everything else tonight."
"It is a trap set by the Morettis," Dorian warned her.
"Wade is working for them to force the legal sale of the land."
Claire looked up at Dorian, her fierce maternal instinct completely overriding her fear.
"I know it is a trap," Claire said firmly.
"But Wade is a coward, and if I don't face him, he will keep hunting us."
Dorian studied her fierce, determined expression and felt a strange surge of genuine admiration.
"Fine," Dorian agreed softly.
"But you are absolutely not going alone."
An hour later, a heavily armored convoy pulled up to an abandoned warehouse near the city docks.
Wade had chosen the remote location, foolishly thinking he was in complete control.
Claire stepped out of the vehicle, the cold morning wind biting sharply at her face.
Dorian walked closely behind her, his hand resting casually near his holstered weapon.
Bull and Petra flanked them, their sharp eyes scanning the shadows for hidden snipers.
They walked bravely into the cavernous, empty warehouse.
Wade was standing in the center of the room, holding the dirty stuffed bear in one hand.
He looked incredibly nervous, sweating profusely despite the freezing temperature.
Five armed Moretti thugs stood menacingly behind him, smirking arrogantly.
"I told you to come alone, Claire," Wade stammered, clearly intimidated by Dorian's massive guards.
"Give me the bear, Wade," Claire demanded, refusing to show any weakness.
"Sign the property transfer papers first," Wade countered, pulling a folded legal document from his jacket.
"The Morettis are paying two million dollars for the cafe, and I get half."
Dorian stepped forward smoothly, completely ignoring the armed thugs.
"The cafe is no longer for sale," Dorian said coldly.
Wade sneered and desperately tried to act tough.
"This is none of your business, Ferrante."
"I am taking my money, and Claire owes me for all the years I supported her."
Dorian let out a dark, humorless laugh that echoed loudly through the warehouse.
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"You really have no idea who you are talking to, do you?" Dorian asked softly.
Suddenly, Wade pulled a hidden pistol from his waistband and aimed it directly at Claire's chest.
