Chapter 2 - The Golden Cage
Chloe screamed and completely abandoned her belongings, turning to sprint frantically back down the dark stairwell.
She had to reach the street and protect her little brother before Varga's violent men got to the SUV.
She burst through the broken front doors of the building, completely out of breath and terrified.
The armored SUV was still parked by the curb, the heavy engine idling quietly in the pouring rain.
She rushed to the window, expecting to see Sam crying or worse, but the back seat was completely empty.
Paulie was casually leaning against the front bumper, smoking a cigarette and checking his phone.
Chloe grabbed his heavy leather jacket and desperately demanded to know where her brother was.
Paulie calmly exhaled a cloud of smoke and pointed toward the dark alley across the street.
Two men were lying face down in the deep mud, completely unconscious and bleeding heavily.
Paulie told her that nobody touches the boss's property, and Sam was already safely asleep in the front seat.
Chloe let out a massive breath, her knees buckling slightly against the side of the heavy vehicle.
Paulie drove them to a high-rise luxury apartment building in the wealthy financial district.
The apartment Dominic provided was breathtaking, with floor-to-ceiling windows and pristine white furniture.
It was an absolutely beautiful, completely terrifying golden cage.
The next morning, Chloe arrived at the upscale Italian restaurant, Laura, ready to begin paying off her debt.
The restaurant was empty except for the kitchen staff silently prepping for the busy evening service.
Dominic was sitting alone in a plush velvet booth, reviewing a stack of thick financial ledgers.
He handed her a pristine uniform and instructed her to memorize the massive wine list before noon.
Chloe took the heavy binder and walked toward the small manager's office in the back.
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She pushed the door open and stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the floor.
There was a large, unmistakable puddle of dark, wet blood pooling directly under the heavy metal safe.
