Chapter 10 - The False Victory
Dante helped me to my feet as the sound of approaching sirens grew louder.
We managed to slip out through the service elevator and escape into the rainy Chicago night.
Dante's loyal men secured a safe house on the outskirts of the city.
He held my hand the entire ride, a silent promise that our nightmare was finally over.
I felt a profound sense of victory knowing we had defeated Clara's assassination attempt.
Dante kissed me softly in the back of the car, washing away the terror of the evening.
He promised to handle the fallout of the syndicate war while I went home to rest.
His driver dropped me off at my quiet apartment building just before dawn.
I walked up the stairs, exhausted but incredibly happy.
I unlocked my front door and stepped into the dark living room.
I dropped my keys on the table and reached for the light switch.
A voice spoke from the darkness, freezing the blood in my veins.
"You really are a brilliant puzzle solver, Emily," the voice said.
I flicked the lights on and stared in absolute horror.
Clara Marino was sitting comfortably in my favorite armchair, holding a steaming cup of tea.
Her shoulder was bandaged, but she looked completely relaxed and in control.
I backed away toward the door, realizing she had let us win the battle at the hotel.
Clara smiled warmly and took a sip of her tea.
She told me she was so grateful I had kept Dante distracted exactly as she planned.
She stood up and walked toward me with a chilling grace.
"Did you really think your pathetic secretary salary paid for a luxury psychiatric facility?" Clara whispered.
She handed me a manila folder containing the ownership deeds to the Evanston clinic.
May you like
"I own the hospital, Emily, and I own Leo," she smiled brightly.
"And if you don't assassinate my husband by midnight tomorrow, your brother is going to have a very tragic accident."
