Chapter 3 - The Blood Debt
The silence in the restaurant was absolute and terrifying.
Norah felt the air leave her lungs as she remembered the young Russian boy who had died from a rival gunshot wound in her trauma bay.
She had done everything medically possible to save him, but his heart had stopped before the surgeon even arrived.
"She is my fiancée, Ivan, and she had nothing to do with your son's murder," Dominic said, his voice dangerously low.
Ivan stood up, his massive frame towering over the table as his guards instinctively rested their hands on their weapons.
"The money means nothing to me now, Russo," Ivan spat, pointing a thick finger at Norah.
"I want the girl."
"I will take her life to balance the scales for the son she failed to save."
Dominic stepped smoothly in front of Norah, entirely shielding her from the Russian boss.
"The debt is settled, and the girl goes home with me," Dominic stated with absolute finality.
Ivan’s face twisted into an ugly mask of rage.
"Then you will both die tonight," Ivan roared.
Before the Russian guards could even draw their pistols, Dominic’s hand blurred toward his waistband.
Deafening gunfire erupted in the confined space of the luxury restaurant.
Dominic fired three times, dropping the guards nearest to them before grabbing Norah by the waist.
He tackled her behind a thick marble pillar as bullets shattered the expensive crystal chandeliers above them.
Glass rained down on Norah’s hair as she covered her ears to block out the screaming chaos.
Victor materialized from the kitchen hallway, laying down suppressive fire with a submachine gun.
"Move to the alley!" Dominic shouted, pulling Norah to her feet.
They sprinted through the swinging kitchen doors, dodging terrified kitchen staff and flying debris.
They burst out into the cold night air, running frantically toward the waiting armored town car.
Simon threw the rear doors open, his reptilian eyes scanning the dark alley for threats.
Dominic shoved Norah into the backseat and dove in right behind her.
As the car screeched away from the curb, a final gunshot echoed through the alley.
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Dominic suddenly collapsed against the leather seats, his breathing ragged and shallow.
Norah looked down and saw a massive pool of dark blood rapidly expanding across the front of his charcoal sweater.
