Chapter 1 - The Imminent Threat
Vincent stared at the glowing screen of his secure phone.
His expression instantly shifted from mild annoyance to absolute dread.
Damian did not move a single muscle.
He simply waited for his trusted second-in-command to speak.
"The Chicago crew did not surrender," Vincent whispered harshly.
"They just ordered a surface-to-air strike on this exact jet."
Caitlyn heard the terrifying words, but her exhausted brain could not process them.
The jet suddenly pitched to the left as the pilot initiated evasive maneuvers.
Gravity shifted violently inside the luxurious cabin.
Caitlyn completely lost her grip on the company tablet.
Her heavy eyelids finally surrendered to the crushing weight of forty-six sleepless hours.
She slumped sideways as the plane banked hard.
Her head landed squarely on Damian Hamilton’s solid shoulder.
The entire cabin froze in collective horror.
A bodyguard in the back instinctively reached for his hidden weapon.
Vincent stopped breathing entirely.
Damian looked down at the soft hair resting against his expensive jacket.
He calmly raised two fingers in the air.
"No one wakes her," Damian ordered quietly.
The command was so absolute that the armed men visibly trembled.
Damian wrapped his large hand firmly around Caitlyn’s waist to keep her from falling.
"Tell the pilot to drop altitude and lose the radar lock," Damian instructed.
Vincent scrambled to the intercom to relay the urgent orders.
The jet plunged into a terrifying freefall through the stormy sky.
Caitlyn whimpered softly in her deep sleep.
She instinctively buried her face into Damian’s chest for warmth.
Damian tightened his grip on her, his jaw clenching with protective fury.
For a decade, no one had dared to touch him without explicit permission.
Now, this fragile woman was seeking shelter in his arms.
The plane leveled out with a violent shudder.
Vincent returned from the cockpit with a very pale face.
"We lost the missile lock, but we cannot land in New York safely," Vincent reported.
"Divert to the secure compound in Pennsylvania," Damian commanded.
Vincent hesitated, looking nervously at the sleeping secretary.
"Boss, the intercepted chatter mentioned a secondary target," Vincent warned.
Damian narrowed his dark eyes.
"They found out about the girl," Vincent continued.
Damian felt a dangerous surge of rage ignite in his chest.
"What exactly do they know?" Damian asked.
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Vincent swallowed nervously before delivering the final blow.
"They know about her disabled brother, Noah, and they are heading to his clinic right now."
