CHAPTER 2 — “The Hunter Arrives… But Another Predator Was Already Waiting”
Dominic's helicopter lifted off from the roof of Valente Shipping less than twenty minutes later.
Boston.
No security convoy.
No public itinerary.
Only Dominic...
Carlo...
Silas...
And six men who had followed him into gunfights without ever asking why.
Inside the helicopter, nobody spoke.
Dominic kept staring at the ultrasound stored on his tablet.
He zoomed in repeatedly until the image became nothing but gray pixels.
His child.
Nearly four months by now.
If...
If Meline was still alive.
His phone vibrated.
Another encrypted message.
No sender.
Only a photograph.
Dominic's blood froze.
It showed Meline.
Standing outside a small grocery store.
One hand resting gently on her noticeably pregnant stomach.
The timestamp read...
Two hours ago.
She was alive.
Dominic closed his eyes for one brief second.
Relief.
Then rage.
Whoever had taken this photo wasn't helping him.
They were watching her.
Another message arrived.
Find her before the Duca family does.
Carlo looked over.
"What is it?"
Dominic silently handed him the phone.
Carlo's face drained of color.
"They found her..."
"No."
Dominic shook his head.
"They're warning me."
Silas leaned forward.
"Or baiting you."
Nobody answered.
Because both possibilities were equally terrifying.
Across Boston...
Meline—now living as Clara Evans—had just finished buying milk, bread, and prenatal vitamins.
The baby kicked gently.
She smiled.
"Easy there."
An elderly woman stocking flowers outside the shop laughed.
"First baby?"
Meline nodded.
"I'm due in a few months."
"You'll be a wonderful mother."
The words nearly made her cry.
No one had ever said that before.
She thanked the woman and walked toward her apartment.
She never noticed the black SUV parked across the street.
Inside sat two men wearing tailored suits.
Neither belonged to Dominic.
One lowered a pair of binoculars.
"Positive identification."
The driver nodded.
"The boss was right."
"She's carrying Valente's heir."
The passenger picked up a satellite phone.
"Inform Miss Duca."
A woman's cold voice answered immediately.
"Report."
"We found her."
A long silence.
Then Seraphina laughed.
Softly.
Cruelly.
"Excellent."
"And Valente?"
"His helicopter left Chicago thirty minutes ago."
Seraphina's smile widened.
"Perfect timing."
She looked toward the Atlantic through the penthouse windows.
"If Dominic reaches her..."
"...the child unites two bloodlines."
"But if I reach her first..."
"...there won't be a child left to inherit anything."
She ended the call.
Then calmly slipped on a pair of black leather gloves.
"Prepare the jet."
Meanwhile...
Meline reached the basement apartment.
She unlocked the door.
Everything looked normal.
Until she stepped inside.
The room smelled different.
Not gas.
Not smoke.
Cologne.
Expensive.
Familiar.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Someone had been there.
On the tiny kitchen table sat a single object.
A white envelope.
No stamp.
No address.
Only four handwritten words.
I KNOW ABOUT THE BABY.
Meline's hands began shaking uncontrollably.
Then...
From the darkness behind her...
A deep male voice quietly whispered—
"Don't scream."
May you like
"Because if Dominic Valente finds you before I finish talking..."
"...we're all dead."
Related Stories
