Chapter 6 - The Betrayal WithinThe applause—or rather, the terrified silence—that followed Sebastian standing up in the ballroom changed the power dynamic of Chicago overnight. Moretti fled the gala before dessert was served, and the Syndicate board fell instantly back into line.
But back at the estate, the victory celebration was cut short by a fresh nightmare.
I was in the medical lab reviewing Oliver's latest respiratory charts when the heavy oak door slammed open. Gabriel marched in, dragging a bleeding, gagging man across the floor.
It was Dr. Evans—the chief medical consultant who had supposedly looked after Sebastian's medical files for a decade.
"He was uploading our encrypted security blueprints and medical logs to an external server," Gabriel reported coldly, shoving the doctor onto a leather chair. "He's been selling our secrets to the FBI and Moretti."
Sebastian rolled into the room, his movements smoother today. He didn't need the wheelchair for short distances anymore; he used a heavy cane carved from dark ebony wood. He stopped a few feet away, looking down at the cowering doctor with cold, dead eyes.
"Please, Mr. Lombardi! I have a family!" Dr. Evans sobbed, clutching at Sebastian's trousers. "They threatened me! Moretti said he would kill my daughter if I didn't give them your medical files!"
Sebastian slowly raised his cane, resting the heavy silver handle against the doctor's chest.
"You betrayed my house," Sebastian said softly, his voice dangerously calm. "You took money from my enemies while eating at my table. And worst of all... you compromised the safety of the woman who gave me my legs back."
Sebastian looked over at me, his gaze softening for a fraction of a second before hardening back into stone.
"Gabriel. Take him to the docks," Sebastian ordered.
"No! Please, Sebastian! If you kill me, you'll never know who hired your ex-husband!" Dr. Evans screamed, thrashing wildly.
I froze. My breath caught in my throat.
"Stop!" I cried out, stepping forward. "What did he just say?"
Gabriel hesitated, looking at Sebastian. Sebastian slowly lowered his cane, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at the trembling doctor.
"Speak," Sebastian commanded. "Now."
Dr. Evans gasped for air, sweating profusely. "It wasn't just Moretti! David—Clare's ex-husband—he didn't just ruin her financially! He was hired by Moretti six months ago to destroy her life, force her into desperation, and plant her at the wellness center! They knew about your back, Sebastian! They engineered her coming to you as a Trojan horse to poison you!"
The room went dead silent.
I staggered backward as if I had been physically struck. My chest tightened. The divorce, the brutal financial ruin, the cash jobs at the rundown clinic... it wasn't a coincidence?
I looked at Sebastian, sheer terror gripping my heart. His face had gone completely blank—the mask of the ultimate crime lord descending over his features like a sheet of ice.
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"Sebastian," I whispered, my voice trembling violently. "I swear to God... I didn't know. I swear I had nothing to do with them."
Sebastian turned his cold, empty stare toward me. For the first time since I started healing him, I couldn't read what he was thinking. And that terrified me more than any weapon ever could.
