Chapter 7 - The Underground Escape
Dante rushed back up the concrete stairs and violently slammed his shoulder against the steel grate.
The heavy metal completely refused to budge.
"We are totally trapped," Elena panicked, pressing her back against the damp brick wall.
"This building connects directly to the old subway catacombs," Dante explained, turning his phone's flashlight on.
He grabbed her hand again, and they started running deeper into the dark, echoing tunnels.
The air smelled strongly of old rust and stale water.
"Why would someone in your family want me dead?" Elena demanded between heavy breaths.
"Because they finally figured out who you really are," Dante answered grimly.
He abruptly stopped walking and pinned her against the cold wall with his body to hide the flashlight beam.
Heavy footsteps splashed in the murky puddles just a few yards ahead of them.
Dante covered her mouth gently with his large hand, his chest pressing intimately against hers.
Elena’s heart hammered so loudly she was absolutely certain the armed men could hear it.
They waited in suffocating silence until the footsteps completely faded away down a side tunnel.
Dante slowly lowered his hand, but he did not step away from her.
"Why did you really hide, Elena?" he asked softly, the danger making his voice incredibly rough.
Elena looked up into his intense eyes and knew she could not lie to him anymore.
"My father didn't steal that money from the cartel," she whispered brokenly.
"He was laundering it for a massive syndicate, and I accidentally saw the ledger."
"I memorized every single bank account, routing number, and offshore shell company before they murdered him."
Dante's jaw clenched so tightly she could actually hear his teeth grinding together.
"Which syndicate?" Dante demanded.
Before she could answer, massive floodlights suddenly blinded them from the end of the tunnel.
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"My syndicate, nephew," a booming, familiar voice echoed from the bright light.
Dante completely froze as his estranged uncle, Lorenzo, stepped into view.
