Chapter 8 - THE HEIR
Harper refused to obey.
Instead, she called Elena.
Then the police.
Then Dominic's remaining loyal men.
But before anyone could arrive, the penthouse security system shut down.
The elevator opened.
Three men entered.
Harper ran.
She reached the emergency stairwell.
One man caught her.
She fought.
She screamed.
Then something struck the back of her head.
Darkness swallowed her.
When Harper woke, she was inside an abandoned warehouse.
Her wrists were tied.
Carmine sat across from her.
“You look like your father.”
Harper glared.
“You killed him.”
“He made choices.”
“You murdered him.”
Carmine smiled.
“Your father believed Dominic could become a better man.”
“And?”
“I wanted to prove him wrong.”
Harper's hand moved instinctively toward her stomach.
Carmine noticed.
His eyes widened.
“You're pregnant.”
Harper said nothing.
He smiled.
“How convenient.”
Dominic was dragged into the room.
He was bruised but alive.
“Let her go.”
Carmine laughed.
“Still protecting her.”
Dominic's eyes found Harper.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Carmine stepped between them.
“The child changes everything.”
Dominic's expression became lethal.
“If you touch her, you die.”
Carmine smiled.
“Perhaps.”
Then Elena appeared.
She was holding a gun.
Harper's heart sank.
Dominic looked at her.
“Elena?”
She raised the weapon.
“I'm sorry.”
Harper felt betrayed.
But Elena suddenly turned and shot one of Carmine's men.
Chaos erupted.
Dominic tackled another.
Harper crawled behind a crate.
Elena cut her restraints.
“Run!”
“What about Dominic?”
“He knows what to do.”
Harper refused.
Then Dominic appeared.
He grabbed her hand.
“Come.”
They ran.
Outside, snow began falling.
Cars screeched toward them.
Dominic opened the door.
Harper climbed inside.
Then Carmine appeared with a gun.
Dominic pushed Harper down.
The shot struck him.
“Dominic!”
He fell.
Harper screamed.
But the bullet had struck his vest.
He rose.
“I'm fine.”
She hit his chest.
“You idiot!”
He laughed.
“I love you too.”
They escaped.
Three hours later, the organization collapsed.
Carmine was arrested after Elena provided evidence to federal investigators.
Dominic handed over enough information to dismantle the criminal network.
But one question remained.
Who was the missing Russo heir?
The answer came from an old DNA record.
Dominic's younger brother had survived the childhood accident everyone believed had killed him.
His name was Adrian.
And Adrian had been working with Carmine.
But before anyone could find him, Adrian sent Dominic a message.
You have no idea why Father wanted me alive.
Then another message arrived.
Ask Harper what her father hid from you.
Dominic looked at Harper.
She felt fear.
“What?”
He showed her the message.
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Dominic believed her.
May you like
But somewhere inside the city, Adrian Russo was watching them.
And he had one final secret.
