Chapter 4 - THE NIGHT SOMEONE TRIED TO KILL FAITH
Carmine Bellini had lied to Dominic Carter many times.
Small lies.
Necessary lies.
Lies he justified as the cost of keeping a criminal empire alive.
But this was the first time Dominic had looked directly at him and asked a question Carmine couldn't answer without exposing everything.
"Who gave you authority over my medical decisions?"
Carmine cleared his throat.
"You did."
Dominic remained still.
"When?"
"After the accident."
"I don't remember signing anything."
"You were heavily medicated."
Dominic studied him.
"Convenient."
Carmine forced a smile.
"You were in terrible condition. Someone had to make decisions."
"Then show me the paperwork."
"Of course."
"Today."
Carmine nodded.
"Today."
Dominic turned toward the window.
"You're dismissed."
Carmine left.
Only when the door closed did Dominic release the breath he'd been holding.
He had trusted that man with his businesses, his money, and his life.
Now he wondered whether Carmine had been standing beside his wheelchair for six months because he cared.
Or because he wanted to make certain Dominic never left it.
Faith returned shortly after sunset.
Rebecca had advised her not to discuss the records with anyone except Dominic.
But the moment Faith entered the mansion, she sensed something wrong.
Mrs. Gable was waiting near the stairs.
"Mr. Carter wants you upstairs."
"Is he angry?"
"Not with you."
That answer worried Faith more.
She climbed the staircase.
Dominic was in his study.
"Close the door."
She did.
He held out his hand.
"The records."
Faith passed him the folder Rebecca had prepared.
Dominic read every page.
His face remained expressionless.
When he reached Carmine's signature, he stopped.
"Four months," he said quietly.
Faith waited.
"For four months, someone knew I should have been evaluated for rehabilitation."
"Dominic—"
"And nobody told me."
His voice broke on the final word.
Faith had seen him furious.
She had seen him cruel.
But she had never seen him wounded like this.
He looked down at his legs.
"I spent six months believing this was all I had left."
Faith approached carefully.
"Rebecca said there's still uncertainty."
"I know."
"She didn't promise you'll walk."
"I know."
"But you deserve the chance to find out."
Dominic lifted his eyes.
Something unguarded passed across his face.
"Why do you care?"
Faith swallowed.
"Because someone should."
He looked away.
For a moment, she thought he might cry.
Instead, he whispered, "I don't know what to do with that."
That night, Faith received a text message.
YOUR LANDLORD AGREED TO AN EXTENSION. COME SIGN THE PAPERWORK TONIGHT.
She stared at the screen.
The message appeared to come from the property manager's number.
Her relief was immediate.
If she could keep her apartment, she wouldn't have to live in her car.
She told Mrs. Gable she needed to leave for an hour.
The older woman frowned.
"At this time?"
"It's important."
"Take one of the drivers."
"No, thank you. I can manage."
Faith regretted that decision twenty minutes later.
The parking lot behind her apartment building was almost empty.
A single streetlamp flickered above the entrance.
Faith stepped out of her car and looked toward the office.
Dark.
Locked.
She checked her phone.
Another message appeared.
COME AROUND BACK.
Her stomach tightened.
She started toward her car.
A black SUV rolled into the lot.
Two men stepped out.
One wore a gray jacket.
The other carried something metallic in his right hand.
"Faith Willis?"
She backed away.
"Who wants to know?"
"Someone who thinks you should stop asking questions."
Faith turned and ran.
The first man caught her coat.
She twisted free, leaving the fabric in his hand.
Her shoes slapped against the wet pavement.
She reached the side entrance.
Locked.
Behind her, footsteps accelerated.
"Stop running!"
Faith grabbed a metal trash can and shoved it into the first man's path.
He stumbled.
She sprinted toward the street.
A hand caught her hair.
Pain exploded across her scalp.
She screamed.
The man dragged her backward.
"Listen carefully," he hissed. "You're going to quit that job."
Faith kicked him hard.
He cursed.
The second man approached.
"Enough. Get her in the truck."
A car horn suddenly blared.
Headlights flooded the parking lot.
The men turned.
A dark sedan skidded to a stop.
The driver's door flew open.
A woman stepped out holding a phone.
"Police are on the way!"
Rebecca Shaw.
The attackers hesitated.
Then one shoved Faith to the pavement.
Both men ran toward the SUV.
Seconds later, they were gone.
Rebecca rushed to Faith.
"Are you hurt?"
Faith tried to answer.
Nothing came out.
Her knees were bleeding.
Her wrist throbbed.
And her entire body shook.
Rebecca wrapped a coat around her shoulders.
"Look at me."
Faith raised her eyes.
"You're safe right now."
Faith swallowed.
"How did you know?"
"Dominic asked me to check on you."
Faith blinked.
"He what?"
"Mrs. Gable told him you left alone. He didn't like it."
Faith stared at her.
Then she began to cry.
Dominic was waiting in the foyer when Rebecca brought Faith home.
His wheelchair stood beneath the chandelier.
Two guards flanked the staircase.
Mrs. Gable covered her mouth when she saw Faith's torn coat.
Dominic didn't speak.
He looked at the blood on Faith's knees.
Then at her bruised wrist.
Then at Rebecca.
"Who?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"We don't know yet."
Dominic's voice dropped.
"Who touched her?"
Faith stepped forward.
"Dominic."
He turned toward her.
For the first time, she saw the man Chicago feared.
His eyes were cold enough to make the entire room feel smaller.
"I want names."
"Please."
He looked at her.
"Did they hurt you?"
Faith nodded.
His jaw tightened.
"Did they threaten you?"
Another nod.
Dominic turned to the guards.
"Find them."
Faith grabbed the arm of his wheelchair.
"Stop."
Everyone froze.
Dominic looked down at her hand.
"Faith."
"I don't want anyone killed."
He stared at her.
"They attacked you."
"And I want them arrested."
"These men don't fear prison."
"Then let them learn."
For a long moment, Dominic said nothing.
Then he looked at the guards.
"Find the evidence. Contact our attorney. Give everything to the police."
Carmine, who had just entered the hallway, stopped dead.
Dominic noticed.
And something dark settled behind his eyes.
Later, Faith sat on the edge of her bed while Rebecca examined her injuries.
Nothing appeared broken, but Rebecca recommended imaging for her wrist and evaluation at an emergency department.
Faith agreed.
Dominic waited outside her room.
When Rebecca finally stepped into the hall, he asked, "Is she all right?"
"She's shaken. She needs rest and medical follow-up."
Dominic nodded.
Then he asked something Rebecca had never expected.
"Can I see her?"
Rebecca smiled faintly.
"Ask her."
He knocked.
Faith looked up.
"Come in."
Dominic wheeled inside.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he said, "I'm sorry."
Faith blinked.
"For what?"
"For bringing danger into your life."
"You didn't attack me."
"No. But my world did."
Faith studied him.
"Then change your world."
Dominic looked at her.
"That's not simple."
"I didn't say it was."
Silence.
Then he reached into his jacket.
He placed an envelope on her bedside table.
Faith opened it.
Inside was a cashier's check covering six months of rent.
She stared at it.
"Dominic."
"You don't owe me anything."
"I can't accept this."
"You can."
"Why?"
His expression softened.
"Because you shouldn't have to choose between being safe and having somewhere to sleep."
Faith looked at him.
For once, she had no answer.
At midnight, Carmine entered his private office and called Dr. Whitmore.
"The girl survived."
Whitmore swore.
"You said your people were reliable."
"They were supposed to scare her."
"Well, now Dominic is suspicious."
Carmine glanced toward the hallway.
"Then we move up the schedule."
"What schedule?"
Carmine opened his desk drawer.
Inside lay a small photograph.
Dominic standing beside his armored SUV six months earlier.
May you like
A red circle had been drawn around his head.
"The one we should have finished the first time."
