Chapter 8 - The Blood Debt
The deafening sirens completely drowned out the sound of the gunfire.
Dominic lunged forward and tackled Marcus to the floor before the traitor could shoot again.
The two men fought brutally on the cold marble, surrounded by stacks of hundred-dollar bills.
Marcus managed to strike Dominic across the jaw with the heavy handle of his pistol.
Dominic grunted but retaliated with a vicious blow to Marcus's throat.
Marcus gasped for air, dropping his weapon completely.
Dominic grabbed the gun and pointed it directly between the underboss's eyes.
"Treason has only one price in this family," Dominic whispered.
He pulled the trigger, ending the rebellion instantly.
The heavy steel lockdown doors slammed shut with a final, terrifying thud.
They were sealed inside the impenetrable vault.
Norah ran to Dominic's side, realizing his navy suit was soaked in dark blood.
"You are shot," she cried, seeing a bullet wound in his lower side.
"It is a through-and-through," he grunted, leaning heavily against the steel wall.
Norah tore a long strip of silk from the hem of her wedding dress.
She bound the wound tightly, her hands stained with his blood.
Dominic looked down at her, his cold earth eyes softening for the very first time.
"You did well today, Mrs. Russo," he murmured softly.
On the floor nearby, Caleb let out a wet, rattling cough.
He was bleeding out rapidly, his blue eyes wide with absolute terror.
Norah walked over to the man who had tormented her for years.
"Norah," Caleb whispered weakly.
"Help me."
She looked down at him with absolutely no pity in her heart.
"You made your choices, Caleb."
Caleb closed his eyes, taking one final, shuddering breath before going completely still.
Norah walked back to Dominic and sat closely beside him on the floor.
"My men will override the lockdown sequence in a few hours," Dominic assured her.
He reached out and gently traced her cheek with his thumb.
May you like
But before he could say another word, the lights in the vault completely shut off.
A green poisonous gas began hissing violently from the air vents above them.
