Chapter 9 - The Truth
The heavy metal doors sealed the warehouse in total, suffocating darkness.
The echoing click of a heavy deadbolt sliding into place signaled they were completely trapped.
"Bull, breach the door!" Dorian roared, snapping out of his shock.
The giant guard rushed forward and slammed his massive shoulder against the solid steel.
The door did not budge a single inch.
Dorian turned back to Claire, who was holding the stuffed bear tightly against her chest.
"You were the nurse at Chicago Med," Dorian whispered in awe.
Claire nodded slowly, her eyes wide with fear in the dim light.
"I recognized the scar on your collarbone the moment you walked into my cafe," she admitted quietly.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Dorian asked, stepping closer to her.
"Because I didn't want you to think I expected a favor in return," Claire answered honestly.
Dorian felt a profound sense of gratitude and absolute loyalty wash over his hardened soul.
He had built his entire empire on ruthless transactions and bloody debts.
But this broke, struggling single mother had saved his life purely out of kindness.
"I owe you my life, Claire," Dorian vowed fiercely.
"I will destroy Wade, I will wipe out the Morettis, and I will make sure you and Maddie never worry about money again."
Claire felt a strange, sudden spark of safety beneath his intense gaze.
For the first time in years, she felt like she didn't have to carry the weight of the world entirely alone.
"Boss!" Petra shouted from the far corner of the warehouse, interrupting the moment.
Petra ran over holding a sophisticated, blinking electronic device she had found hidden in a crate.
"The Morettis didn't lock us in here to ambush us," Petra reported, her voice laced with panic.
"What is it?" Dorian demanded, analyzing the strange device.
"It is a synchronized detonator," Petra explained rapidly.
"They rigged this entire warehouse with C4 explosives, and it is wired directly to the main timer."
Dorian looked at the blinking red numbers on the digital screen.
They had exactly sixty seconds before the building collapsed into dust.
Wade began screaming hysterically, realizing the Morettis had intended to kill him too.
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"There is a storm drain under the floorboards in the office!" Wade cried out, pointing frantically.
"Move!" Dorian commanded, grabbing Claire's hand and sprinting toward the rusted office door.
