Chapter 7 - The Broken Watch in the Public Ward
Marcus’s finger rested dangerously on the trigger.
“Drop the gun, Dominic,” Marcus ordered, stepping fully into the medical tent.
Dominic didn't flinch. He slowly raised his hands, keeping his body positioned squarely between Marcus and Emily.
“Fifteen years, Marcus,” Dominic said, his voice terrifyingly calm. “You ate at my table. You held my daughter when she was born. And you sold us out for Carlisle money?”
Marcus sneered, though a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. “Loyalty doesn't pay the bills, Dominic. Your father’s trust for Clara was sitting there, untouched. Millions of dollars. When Julian Carlisle found out Arthur was alive, we realized we could forge the transfer. Nobody was looking for a dead woman’s money.”
“Until Emily showed up at my house wearing Clara’s locket,” Dominic finished.
“Exactly,” Marcus said. “Vanessa recognized the engraving. She knew if you figured out who Emily was, you’d start digging into the trusts. We couldn't let that happen.”
Emily clutched the forged contract, her heart hammering. She looked at her father, lying helpless on the gurney.
She couldn't let them die here.
Emily noticed the heavy oxygen tank standing next to her father’s bed.
“So what’s the plan, Marcus?” Dominic asked, keeping the traitor’s attention focused entirely on him. “You kill us, and then what? My men are right outside.”
“Your men are loyal to whoever signs their paychecks,” Marcus scoffed. “Julian’s mercenaries have already paid them off. You’re alone, Dominic.”
Now.
Emily didn't think. She grabbed the heavy metal wrench resting on the doctor’s tray and smashed it directly into the valve of the pressurized oxygen tank.
HISS!
A deafening blast of highly pressurized white gas exploded into the tent, instantly blinding everyone in a thick, freezing cloud.
Marcus shouted in surprise and fired blindly. The bullets ripped through the plastic walls, missing Dominic by inches.
Dominic lunged through the fog. He tackled Marcus to the concrete floor, knocking the rifle from his hands. The two men engaged in a brutal, desperate struggle in the blinding gas.
Emily grabbed the terrified doctor by the collar.
“We have to move him!” she screamed over the hissing gas.
The doctor nodded frantically. Together, they unlocked the wheels of Arthur’s gurney and shoved it hard through the back flap of the tent, bursting out into the dark, rainy warehouse.
Dominic delivered a devastating elbow to Marcus’s jaw, knocking the traitor unconscious. He scooped up the dropped rifle and ran out after Emily.
“To the loading dock!” Dominic yelled, pointing toward the back exit.
They pushed the gurney through the shadows, dodging gunfire from the remaining Carlisle mercenaries who were confused by the sudden chaos. Dominic provided covering fire, dropping two mercenaries with clinical precision.
They burst through the back doors and scrambled into a stolen Carlisle transport van parked outside. The doctor climbed into the back with Arthur to manage the ventilator.
Dominic jumped into the driver’s seat and floored the gas pedal. The van crashed through the chain-link gate, speeding away into the stormy night.
They drove for twenty minutes in tense silence, making sure they weren't followed.
“Where are we going?” Emily asked, wiping the freezing rain from her face. “We can’t go back to your estate. Your men are compromised.”
“I know,” Dominic said, his jaw tight. “We’re going to the one place in the city the Carlisles don’t own.”
He pulled the van into the loading bay of a rundown, brutalist building on the west side. St. Jude’s Public Ward.
It was an underfunded, chaotic hospital that catered to the poorest citizens of Chicago. It was crowded, messy, and perfectly anonymous.
They rushed Arthur inside. The overworked nurses didn't ask questions when Dominic slapped a stack of Julian’s cash on the counter. They immediately wheeled Arthur into a secure, private room in the basement level and hooked him up to their machines.
Once Arthur was stabilized, the doctor looked at Emily.
“He’s stable,” the doctor whispered. “He’s going to wake up soon.”
Emily collapsed into a plastic chair, burying her face in her hands, completely overwhelmed.
Dominic sat beside her. He didn't say a word. He just gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders, letting her lean against him. For a mafia boss, he possessed an incredible capacity for quiet comfort.
An hour later, Arthur Parker slowly opened his eyes.
Emily jumped up and rushed to his side. “Dad! I’m here.”
Arthur blinked, confused by the bright lights. He looked at Emily, then his eyes drifted to the tall, imposing man standing behind her.
Arthur’s breath hitched. “Dominic?”
Dominic stepped forward, his eyes full of sorrow. “Hello, Arthur. It’s been a long time.”
Arthur reached out a shaking hand. “I’m sorry. I promised Clara I would hide her. I promised I wouldn't let your family’s enemies find her.”
“You did your best, Arthur,” Dominic said softly. “But the Carlisles found her. And now they’re trying to kill you to cover up the money they stole.”
Arthur shook his head weakly. “It’s not just the money, Dominic. Julian doesn't care about the trust fund. That’s just pocket change to them.”
Dominic frowned. “Then why go through all this?”
Arthur reached into the pocket of his hospital gown. He had refused to let the nurses take it off him. He pulled out an old, broken silver pocket watch.
He handed it to Dominic.
“Open the back casing,” Arthur wheezed.
May you like
Dominic pried the back of the watch open. Inside, tucked behind the gears, was a tiny, black micro-SD card.
“Vanessa didn't want to marry you for your wealth, Dominic,” Arthur whispered, his eyes filled with dread. “She wanted to marry you to get access to your father’s private servers. Because if she destroyed the servers, no one would ever see what’s on that card.”
