Chapter 1 - The Broken Sanctuary
Dominic wiped the single tear from his cheek before it could fully dry.
He sat up slowly on the expensive leather sofa.
The heavy velvet blanket still rested warmly across his broad chest.
He folded the fabric carefully and placed it neatly on the cushion.
He needed to check on the little girl and her mother in the kitchen.
The marble floor was freezing against his socked feet as he walked.
He moved silently down the shadowed hallway of his massive Long Island estate.
The kitchen lights were completely turned off.
This was incredibly strange because Sophia always left the stove light on while she worked.
He reached for the brass light switch but stopped his hand halfway.
A freezing cold draft was blowing directly from the back pantry door.
Dominic pulled the suppressed pistol from his shoulder holster without making a single sound.
He crept toward the dark pantry with years of lethal mafia training guiding his quiet steps.
He saw a massive silhouette standing menacingly over Sophia in the dark.
Sophia was tied tightly to a wooden dining chair with a dirty rag stuffed in her mouth.
Lily was absolutely nowhere to be seen in the dark, terrifying room.
Dominic did not hesitate or ask a single question.
He raised his weapon and fired two perfectly silent shots into the intruder's chest.
The massive man collapsed heavily onto the cold kitchen tiles.
Dominic rushed forward and frantically untied his terrified housekeeper.
Sophia gasped for air and pointed desperately toward the wooden pantry door.
Dominic kicked the pantry door open and found Lily sleeping safely in a woven laundry basket.
He turned back to the dead intruder to check his pockets for any identification.
He rolled the heavy body over and unbuttoned the blood-soaked leather jacket.
A small, crumpled photograph slipped out of the man's pocket and landed face up on the floor.
Dominic picked it up and felt his blood turn completely to solid ice.
The photograph was a candid picture of Sophia and Lily walking in a park.
May you like
Someone had drawn a thick, bloody red target directly over the little girl's smiling face.
Before Dominic could ask Sophia who was hunting them, a bright red laser sight suddenly appeared squarely on his chest.
