Chapter 3 - The Ultimatum
Caitlyn stared at Damian in complete disbelief.
"They bought the clinic?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"They planned this long before the meeting in Chicago," Damian confirmed.
"They wanted leverage against me, and they found my only weakness."
Caitlyn took a step back, her mind racing with terrifying thoughts.
"I am not your weakness," she argued desperately.
"I am just your assistant."
Damian closed the distance between them in one swift motion.
He gently brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"You stopped being just an assistant a very long time ago," he murmured.
The intensity in his eyes made her heart skip a beat.
But this was not the time for romantic revelations.
"I have to go to them," Caitlyn declared, pushing past him.
"If they want me, I will turn myself in to save Noah."
Damian grabbed her wrist, stopping her instantly.
"I am not letting you walk into a death trap," he warned her.
"They will kill him anyway!" she screamed, finally losing control.
She hit his chest, fighting against his iron grip.
Damian did not flinch, simply pulling her firmly against his body until she stopped struggling.
He held her tight, letting her cry into his shirt.
"I protect what is mine," Damian whispered fiercely into her hair.
"And right now, you are mine."
Footsteps echoed loudly down the wooden hallway.
Vincent appeared at the top of the stairs, looking unusually grim.
"Boss, the secure line is ringing," Vincent announced.
"It is the Chicago crew."
Damian released Caitlyn but kept one hand protectively on the small of her back.
They walked down the stairs to the heavily fortified command center.
Damian pressed the speaker button on the blinking phone.
"Hamilton," a raspy voice sneered through the line.
"I assume you know who I have."
"Name your price," Damian said coldly.
"I want you to walk out of your compound alone," the voice demanded.
"If you surrender your life, the disabled boy lives."
Caitlyn gasped loudly.
The raspy voice chuckled darkly over the speaker.
May you like
"Oh, and Hamilton?" the rival boss added.
"Tell the mole inside your house I said thank you for the boy's room number."
