Chapter 5 - THE RECKONING AT MIDNIGHTThe clock on the wall of the high-security command center inside Dominic’s estate read 11:45 PM.
The room was bathed in the cool, blue glow of half a dozen high-definition monitors displaying live satellite feeds, traffic camera grids, and financial transaction logs.
Claire sat in a leather ergonomic chair, a steaming cup of black coffee between her hands, watching Viktor and his team track Grant’s frantic movements across the city.
"He’s panicking," Viktor reported, pointing to a flashing red icon on the central tactical map. "Grant and Lauren just checked out of the Drake Hotel with three heavy suitcases. They’re in a private town car heading north toward O’Hare Private Aviation Terminal. They've booked an emergency charter flight to Zurich."
Dominic stood behind Claire’s chair, his hands resting lightly on the backrest. He leaned down slightly, his breath warm against her ear.
"Let him run to the airfield," Dominic said softly. "It’s poetic, really. He spent twelve years building an empire on stolen charity money, thinking he could fly away whenever the bill came due."
Claire looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "Are you going to let him escape?"
"Escape?" Dominic let out a low, dark chuckle. "Claire, nobody leaves Chicago airspace without my clearance. Especially not a coward carrying your stolen future in his luggage."
He stood straight and looked at Viktor. "Lock down the private terminal. Ground the charter. And send a car to intercept them on the access road before they even reach the tarmac."
"Done, Boss," Viktor replied, his fingers flying across his keyboard.
"Dominic," Claire said, standing up from her chair, her heart pounding with a strange mix of adrenaline and catharsis. "I want to go with you."
Dominic turned to her, his dark eyes narrowing in slight hesitation. "Claire, it's midnight, it's freezing, and what's about to happen isn't pretty. You don't need to see the carcass."
"I spent twelve years living a lie, Dominic," Claire said, her voice steady, filled with a cold, unbreakable resolve that mirrored his own. "I watched him smile while he stole from children who had nothing. I watched him gaslight me into believing I was the unstable one. If Grant Mercer’s empire is going to fall, I want to be standing right there watching it hit the ground."
Dominic stared at her for a long, silent moment. Then, a slow, incredibly tender smile spread across his face—a look reserved entirely for her.
May you like
He reached out, taking her hand and lacing his fingers through hers.
"Then let's go end it," he said.
