Chapter 9 - The Ruthless Underboss
Flames began to eagerly lick at the wooden support beams of the ancient bakery roof.
Mara desperately grabbed the burning steel beam trapping Dominic, completely ignoring the searing heat blistering her palms.
She screamed in agony, channeling every ounce of adrenaline in her body, and miraculously lifted the heavy metal just enough.
Her mother grabbed Dominic by his suit collar and dragged his heavy, unconscious body out from under the wreckage.
They hauled him out through the loading dock doors just as the entire warehouse roof collapsed in a spectacular shower of fiery sparks.
The wail of approaching sirens finally pierced the chaotic night as Dominic's loyal enforcers arrived in a convoy of black SUVs.
They immediately loaded Dominic's bleeding body into the back of a heavily armored medical van.
Mara refused to leave his side, holding his cold hand tightly as they sped toward a private, underground hospital.
Doctors swarmed Dominic immediately, rushing him into emergency surgery to remove the sniper bullet and treat his severe burns.
Mara and her mother sat in the sterile waiting room for ten agonizing hours, covered in soot, blood, and flour.
Finally, the lead surgeon emerged, looking incredibly exhausted but offering a small, hopeful nod.
"He survived the surgery, but he is in a deep coma, and we do not know when he will wake up," the doctor explained softly.
Mara wept with overwhelming relief, leaning her head against her mother's shoulder.
She was allowed to sit by his bedside, gently stroking his dark hair and whispering promises into his unhearing ears.
For three days, the mafia empire remained strangely quiet while its king slept.
On the fourth night, the heavy doors of the intensive care unit violently burst open.
A tall, terrifyingly scarred man walked into the room, flanked by six heavily armed guards.
It was Silas, Dominic's ruthless and notoriously violent Underboss.
Silas looked down at Dominic's comatose body with absolute disgust.
"The boss is weak, and the Russian territory is ripe for the taking," Silas announced to his men.
He turned his cold, dead eyes slowly toward Mara.
"And this little baker is the reason our empire almost collapsed," Silas snarled maliciously.
He ordered his men to drag Mara out of the hospital and execute her immediately to permanently eliminate the security risk.
The guards grabbed Mara's arms, violently dragging her away from Dominic's hospital bed.
Mara screamed and fought frantically, but she was completely overpowered by the massive men.
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Silas pulled a heavy revolver from his coat, aiming it directly at Mara's forehead with a wicked smile.
"Say goodbye to your pathetic fairy tale, little maid," Silas whispered, his finger tightening on the trigger.
