Chapter 7 - THE DROP IN THE DARK
“Where is she?” Sage demanded, her voice echoing off the corrugated steel ceiling.
Tyler turned around, a smug, brilliant smile spreading across his face. He looked exactly like the man she had fallen for two years ago—charming, confident, and utterly hollow.
“Martha is fine, Sage,” Tyler laughed. “She’s at her bakery, probably burning croissants. I just needed a reason to get you to walk through that door without Dominic.”
Sage’s blood ran cold. Tyler had bluffed, knowing she would risk everything for Martha. But Harrison had actually kidnapped Elena to force Dominic’s hand.
“I didn't think Dominic would actually let you hold the real key,” Harrison said, stepping forward. He drew his service weapon and pointed it directly at Elena’s head. Elena was gagged, her eyes wide with terror, but she shook her head violently, silently telling Sage to run.
“He didn't have a choice,” Sage lied smoothly, her hand slipping into the pocket of the wool coat, gripping the fake brass key. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but she kept her face deadpan. “He knows if he shows up, you’ll kill her.”
Tyler scoffed, walking slowly toward Sage. “Dominic is a dinosaur. His father built an empire on loyalty, but loyalty doesn't pay out dividends. Harrison and I have buyers in New York willing to pay fifty million for the names in that deposit box. Toss it over, Sage.”
Sage took a step back, her heel clicking against the concrete. She stopped near a heavy, rusted storm grate built into the floor. Beneath it, she could hear the dark water of the lake sloshing against the pilings.
She pulled the fake brass key from her pocket and held it up.
“Let Elena go first,” Sage said, her voice steady. “Or I drop it in the lake.”
Tyler stopped walking. His smile vanished, replaced by the ugly, volatile rage she knew so well. “Don't play games with me, Sage. I’ll have Harrison shoot her right now.”
“Shoot her, and you lose fifty million dollars,” Sage countered, holding the key directly over the iron grate. “You need this to buy your way out of Chicago, Tyler. Because when Dominic finds out you took his sister, there isn't a hole deep enough for you to hide in.”
Harrison looked nervous. He lowered the gun slightly. “Tyler, just make the trade. We don't have time for this. If Rossi’s men figure out we’re here—”
“Rossi is done!” Tyler shouted, the veneer of control finally snapping. He pulled a small, silver handgun from his coat and pointed it at Sage. “Give me the key, you stupid bitch, or I’ll kill you myself!”
High above them, in the shadows of the steel rafters, a subtle metallic click echoed in the silence.
Tyler froze, his eyes darting upward.
“Drop the gun, Tyler,” Dominic’s voice boomed through the warehouse, radiating absolute, terrifying authority.
Harrison whipped his gun upward, aiming into the rafters.
But before Harrison could pull the trigger, the water beneath the cargo bay doors erupted.
Cain and four heavily armed men in black wetsuits vaulted over the edge of the pier. Silenced gunfire thwipped through the air. Harrison’s two hired guards dropped instantly, clutching their knees.
Harrison panicked. He swung his weapon back toward Elena.
“No!” Sage screamed.
She didn't hesitate. She threw the fake brass key as hard as she could into the dark water of the storm grate, then lunged forward, throwing her entire body weight into Tyler just as he fired.
The gunshot deafened her. Tyler stumbled backward, dropping his gun as Sage crashed into him.
Above them, Dominic dropped fifteen feet from the rafters, landing on a stack of wooden pallets with lethal grace. He moved faster than Sage could track, vaulting over the crates and slamming into Captain Harrison like a freight train.
Harrison’s gun clattered across the floor as Dominic pinned him to the concrete, driving a heavy fist into the dirty cop’s jaw. The fight was over before it began.
Sage scrambled away from Tyler, breathing heavily. Cain was already untying Elena, shielding her with his massive body.
Dominic hauled Harrison to his feet by his tactical vest, his face a mask of pure rage. He threw the unconscious cop into the arms of two of his men.
“Take him to the precinct,” Dominic ordered coldly. “Leave the blackmail file on the Chief’s desk. Let the good cops take out their own trash.”
Dominic turned toward Tyler.
Tyler was on his knees, his expensive coat ruined with warehouse grease, scrambling backward like a terrified child. He looked up at Dominic, shaking uncontrollably.
“Dom, please,” Tyler begged, his voice breaking. “It was Harrison’s idea! He forced me! You know me, I’m just an accountant, I wouldn't do this!”
Dominic didn't say a word. He walked slowly toward Tyler, drawing his weapon.
Sage watched Tyler beg. The man who had tormented her, who had controlled every aspect of her life for two years, was crying on the floor. He wasn't powerful. He wasn't a mastermind. He was just a pathetic, greedy coward.
Dominic raised the gun, aiming right at Tyler’s chest.
“Dominic, wait,” Sage said.
Dominic paused, his eyes flicking to her without lowering the weapon.
Tyler let out a sob of relief. “Yes, Sage, tell him! Tell him I didn't mean to hurt anyone!”
Sage walked up to Tyler. She looked down at him with utter disgust.
“You aren't worth the bullet,” Sage said coldly.
May you like
Suddenly, sirens wailed in the distance. Blue and red lights began flashing through the dirty warehouse windows. Dominic had tipped off the honest fraction of the CPD before the raid.
Tyler’s face twisted in desperate rage. Realizing he was going to prison, he let out a guttural scream, pulled a hidden switchblade from his boot, and lunged directly at Sage.
