Chapter 3 - The Shadow Protocol
Bianca stared at Dominic, the positive pregnancy test still clutched in her hand. The pieces of the puzzle began to violently collide in her mind.
“Ferris paid my father?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“No,” Dominic said, stepping closer and taking her hand. His eyes fell to the plastic stick. He froze, his gaze darting from the test to her eyes, and back again. The ruthless crime boss looked utterly defenseless for a fraction of a second. “Is that...?”
“I’m pregnant, Dominic. It’s yours.”
A mixture of awe, fierce protectiveness, and dark rage washed over Dominic’s face. He cupped her cheek. “They lied to you. They branded you infertile and cast you out. But why?”
Bianca’s mind, trained in complex logistics and data analysis, began to unravel the conspiracy. “Think about it, Dominic. The Newark terminal. Six months ago, I found a hidden subsidiary under Romano Continental called 'The Shadow Protocol.' It was a medical research company. I thought it was just a tax shelter, so I didn't dig deeper. But Dr. Ferris was the chief medical advisor for that subsidiary.”
Dominic’s eyes darkened. “A medical research company owned by the Romanos, advised by the doctor who diagnosed you. What were they researching, Bianca?”
“Gene-editing and illegal fertility treatments for ultra-wealthy clients who couldn’t conceive,” Bianca realized, the horror dawning on her. “They were conducting human trials. If anyone found out, the Romanos and their elite clients would face lifetime prison sentences. I was the head of logistics. I was starting to audit the medical supply division. They knew I would find the paper trail.”
“So they silenced you,” Dominic growled. “Not with a bullet, which would draw federal attention, but by destroying your credibility. If you are diagnosed as 'infertile' and mentally unstable from the trauma, any whistleblower report you file about a fertility research conspiracy looks like the delusions of a scorned, broken woman.”
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“And my engagement to Adrian Caruso...” Bianca gasped. “The Carusos were in on it. They wanted to merge our logistics to distribute the illegal treatments globally. When I got too close, they used Ferris to stage the diagnosis. My family sold me to you to get me out of the way, thinking you would never touch me.”
Dominic let out a low, dangerous laugh. “They thought I wouldn't touch you. They thought they could use my reputation as a shield to hide their dirty secrets.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “They don't know who they're dealing with. They messed with my wife. They messed with my child. We are going to burn their empire to the ground.”
