Chapter 5 - THE TRAP IS SPRUNG
Headline: Surrounded by Enemies—The Mafia Boss and the Housekeeper’s Final Stand
The mansion was surrounded. Through the windows, Dominic could see the headlights of dozens of black SUVs lining the long driveway. The iron gates had been smashed open.
Inside the study, Dominic had Marco tied to a heavy wooden chair, his face bloodied and beaten. Elena was in the corner, packing a tactical bag with medical supplies and ammunition she had retrieved from Dominic's hidden armory.
"We can't fight them all," Elena said, her voice tight. "There are at least thirty men out there. They have thermal imaging and automatic weapons. If we stay here, we die."
Dominic stood by the window, his mind racing. He had spent his entire life building his empire, but in this moment, his money, his influence, and his reputation meant absolutely nothing. The only things that mattered were the three little girls sleeping soundly in the hidden safe room downstairs, and the mysterious woman who had brought them back to life.
"There's a tunnel," Dominic said suddenly. "It leads from the wine cellar to the private beach. It was built during prohibition. Nobody knows about it except me."
"Then we use it," Elena said.
"They'll track us on the beach," Dominic countered. "Silvio isn't stupid. He’ll have boats waiting in the water. We need a distraction."
Elena looked at Marco, who was laughing weakly through his broken teeth.
"You're already dead, Dominic," Marco sneered. "Silvio won't stop. He wants the girls. He wants to wipe out the Russo name once and for all."
Elena walked over to Marco. She leaned down, her eyes cold as ice. "Where is the main transmitter for your communications, Marco? The one you used to coordinate with Silvio?"
Marco spat blood onto her shoes. "Go to hell."
Without blinking, Elena grabbed Marco’s broken wrist and twisted it. Marco shrieked in agony, his body shaking.
"Tell me," Elena whispered. "Or I will make sure your death takes days."
"In... in my pocket..." Marco gasped. "The burner phone. It's pre-programmed."
Elena retrieved the phone and handed it to Dominic. "Call him. Tell him you're ready to negotiate. Tell him you'll exchange me and the girls for your life. That will buy us the time we need to get to the tunnel."
Dominic stared at her. "No. I won't use you as bait."
"It's not bait if we don't plan on showing up," Elena said, a faint, dangerous smile playing on her lips. "I spent five years running from these people, Dominic. I’m tired of running. Let’s end this tonight."
Dominic felt a sudden, fierce wave of admiration for her. She wasn't just a survivor; she was a warrior. He dialed the number on the burner phone.
The call connected on the first ring.
"Russo," Silvio’s voice sneered. "I was wondering when you'd call. Ready to beg?"
"I don't beg, Silvio," Dominic said, his voice steady and cold. "But I am a businessman. I’ll give you the housekeeper. She’s the runaway asset you’ve been looking for. And I’ll give you the girls. Just let me walk away with my life and my money."
Silvio laughed. "The great Dominic Russo, selling out his own flesh and blood to save his skin. I knew you were weak. Meet me at the boathouse in ten minutes. Come alone, unarmed, with the cargo."
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"Ten minutes," Dominic said, and hung up.
He turned to Elena. "We have ten minutes. Let's go."
