Chapter 9 - The Purge of the Empire
By noon, the news cycle was completely dominated by the shocking arrest of New York’s top legal and political figures.
Dr. Harrison was taken into federal custody directly from his operating room. Veronica Hale was led out of the hospital in handcuffs, her tear-stained face plastered across every major news network. Anthony and six board members were indicted on charges of attempted murder, treason, and racketeering.
The Moretti Syndicate had been purged. The traitors were gone.
As the sun began to set over the Hudson River, pouring golden light across my penthouse suite, I stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass, sipping scotch. My body was sore, but my empire was stronger than it had ever been.
Grace stood near the doorway, wearing her simple street clothes, carrying a small leather bag.
"The federal investigators finished taking my statement," she said quietly. "They said I'm fully cleared of any involvement."
I turned around, looking at her with profound respect. "You saved my life, Grace. You risked everything when you could have just stayed invisible."
I walked over to my desk, picked up a signed cashier's check for twenty million dollars, and handed it to her.
"This is just a start," I said. "I want you to head my global security and intelligence operations. You have eyes and ears no enforcer could ever match."
Grace took the check, looking down at the numbers. A faint, quiet smile touched her lips.
"Twenty million," she murmured. "It's a generous offer, Dominic."
"You earned every penny."
May you like
"Did I?" Grace asked softly.
She folded the check neatly in half and slid it back onto my desk.
