Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN HE REFUSED TO LOSE
Anthony DeLuca had spent his entire life believing power belonged to the man willing to take it.
His father had taught him that.
Frank DeLuca had built his fortune through betrayal, deception, and violence.
And Anthony had followed every lesson.
Now his empire was collapsing.
His accounts were frozen.
His closest associates were cooperating with investigators.
And Dominic Carter, the man he'd tried to destroy, was recovering.
Anthony had nothing left to lose.
Which made him more dangerous than ever.
Dominic refused to let Faith return to the mansion.
Not until Anthony was caught.
She argued.
He argued back.
Finally, Rebecca stepped between them.
"Enough."
They both turned.
Rebecca folded her arms.
"Faith needs a secure location. Dominic needs medical supervision. Neither of you gets to make decisions based on stubbornness."
Faith looked offended.
"I'm not stubborn."
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
Rebecca laughed.
"Of course not."
They relocated temporarily to a protected residence arranged through the authorities.
Eli stayed with relatives outside Chicago.
Mrs. Gable remained with trusted staff at another secure property.
For the first time in months, the mansion stood nearly empty.
At the safe house, Dominic struggled with an unfamiliar feeling.
Peace.
No staff waiting for orders.
No business associates demanding decisions.
No endless phone calls.
Just a quiet house, a rehabilitation schedule, and Faith.
One evening, she found him in the kitchen attempting to make pasta.
He had positioned his wheelchair beside the counter.
Flour covered his black shirt.
A saucepan simmered on the stove.
Faith stopped in the doorway.
"What happened here?"
Dominic looked up.
"Dinner."
"It looks like a bakery exploded."
"That's because you have no appreciation for culinary genius."
She laughed.
He pointed toward the table.
"Sit."
Faith obeyed.
Dominic served the pasta.
It was slightly overcooked.
The sauce was too salty.
And the garlic had burned.
Faith took one bite.
Dominic watched her.
"Well?"
She swallowed.
"Interesting."
His eyes narrowed.
"Interesting?"
"Very."
He groaned.
"It's terrible."
Faith burst out laughing.
Dominic joined her.
And for one beautiful hour, they forgot the danger outside.
After dinner, they sat together on the couch.
Dominic took her hand.
"I've been thinking."
Faith smiled.
"That sounds dangerous."
He laughed.
"Very."
Then his expression grew serious.
"When this is over, I want to build something different."
"What?"
"A rehabilitation foundation."
Faith blinked.
"For people with spinal injuries?"
"And people who can't afford proper treatment."
Her eyes widened.
"Dominic."
"I spent six months surrounded by money and still nearly lost the chance to recover because the people around me were dishonest."
He looked down.
"Imagine what happens to someone who can't afford a second opinion."
Faith squeezed his hand.
"My mother would have loved that."
Dominic smiled.
"Then we'll name it after her."
Faith stared at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
"The Evelyn Willis Foundation?"
He nodded.
"If you'll help me run it."
She covered her mouth.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she leaned forward and kissed him.
"Yes."
The next morning, Anthony made his move.
Not against Dominic.
Against Faith.
She had gone to the clinic for a scheduled meeting with Rebecca.
Two police officers accompanied her.
But Anthony had arranged for a false emergency call to divert attention from the building's rear entrance.
As Faith stepped into the parking garage, a familiar voice spoke from behind a concrete pillar.
"Miss Willis."
She turned.
Anthony DeLuca stood ten feet away.
His face was pale.
His clothes were dirty.
And his eyes were filled with desperation.
Faith froze.
"Don't move."
Anthony lifted his hands.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
She didn't believe him.
"Then stay where you are."
He laughed bitterly.
"You really think Dominic can protect you forever?"
Faith slowly reached toward her phone.
Anthony noticed.
"Don't."
She stopped.
"I just want to talk."
"Then talk to the police."
Anthony's face twisted.
"The police are going to take everything."
Faith stared at him.
"You murdered people."
"I did what was necessary."
"No."
Her voice shook.
"You did what was profitable."
Anthony stepped closer.
Faith backed away.
"Stay there."
He ignored her.
Then a voice thundered from behind him.
"ANTHONY!"
Both turned.
Dominic Carter stood at the entrance to the garage.
Not walking freely.
He was supported by forearm crutches and accompanied by Marcus Reed, who had been helping him practice short assisted movements at the clinic.
His legs trembled.
His face was pale.
But he was upright.
Anthony stared.
"What the hell?"
Dominic took one careful step forward.
Then another.
Marcus remained beside him.
"Don't come closer," Dominic said.
Anthony laughed nervously.
"Look at you."
Dominic's expression was cold.
"You wanted me helpless."
Anthony's smile vanished.
"You should have stayed in that wheelchair."
Dominic looked at Faith.
"Come here."
She moved toward him.
Anthony lunged.
Faith stumbled backward.
A police officer shouted from the far entrance.
"Stop!"
Anthony grabbed Faith's arm.
She cried out.
Dominic moved instinctively.
He released one crutch to reach toward her, lost his balance, and fell heavily to one knee.
Pain shot through his leg.
Faith screamed his name.
Anthony tried to pull her toward a waiting vehicle.
But Faith twisted free.
She struck his arm with her handbag and ran toward the officers.
Within seconds, Anthony was surrounded.
He resisted.
Then he was forced to the ground and handcuffed.
Dominic remained on the concrete floor.
Marcus crouched beside him.
"Don't move yet."
Dominic barely heard him.
His eyes searched the garage.
"Faith!"
She ran toward him.
"I'm here!"
He reached for her.
She dropped to her knees.
Their arms wrapped around each other.
Dominic buried his face against her shoulder.
For the first time in his life, he didn't care who saw him cry.
"I thought he had you."
Faith held him tighter.
"I'm here."
He pulled back.
His hands framed her face.
"I can't lose you."
"You won't."
Dominic shook his head.
"No. You don't understand."
Faith looked at him.
He swallowed.
"I spent years believing power meant controlling everything around me."
His voice broke.
"But the only thing I want now is a life with you."
Faith began crying.
Dominic reached into his jacket.
His fingers closed around a small velvet box.
Faith froze.
"Dominic?"
He laughed shakily.
"I had a different plan for this."
He opened the box.
Inside was a delicate diamond ring.
"Faith Willis."
Her hands flew to her mouth.
"I can't promise I'll never struggle. I can't promise my legs will recover completely. And I can't erase the man I used to be."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"But I can promise to spend every day becoming someone worthy of the life we're building."
Faith sobbed.
"Dominic."
"Will you marry me?"
For a moment, the parking garage was silent.
Then Faith laughed through her tears.
"Yes."
Dominic closed his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Yes, you impossible man."
She kissed him.
Marcus looked away, smiling.
One of the police officers quietly wiped his eyes.
And Dominic Carter, who had once ruled Chicago through fear, discovered that the happiest moment of his life required no power at all.
Only love.
But the story wasn't finished.
That evening, Dominic's attorney called.
Frank DeLuca had been arrested.
Investigators had uncovered evidence connecting him to the murder of Dominic's father.
And among the recovered documents was a sealed letter written by Dominic's mother before her death.
A letter she had never sent.
Dominic opened it with trembling hands.
May you like
The first sentence made him stop breathing.
My son, if you're reading this, then the truth about your father's death has finally reached you.
