Chapter 4 - The Price of Loyalty
The heavy mahogany doors splintered into thousands of wooden shards under the hail of Roman’s high-caliber fire.
Screams of pain echoed from the hallway as two of Rourke’s men collapsed onto the carpet. Roman moved with lethal, terrifying grace, firing three-round bursts, using the doorframe as cover while driving the attackers back toward the grand staircase.
Outside the window, a sudden flash of blinding white light illuminated the snowy driveway.
Searchlights!
The loud, rhythmic thunder of twin heavy-lift helicopters rattled the entire roof of the mansion!
"What the hell is that?" a voice screamed from the hallway. "That's not Bellandi security!"
I dragged myself to the edge of the bed, holding my stomach, and looked out the window.
Two massive black helicopters bearing the official crest of Chun International Enterprises hovered over the estate, searchlights pinning Rourke’s men against the snow. Dozens of heavily armed tactical operatives in dark gray uniforms were rappelling down ropes onto the lawn, instantly overwhelming Rourke’s perimeter guards.
Victor Chun had arrived.
Beside the lead helicopter’s open door, a sleek black sedan pulled up to the front entrance. Out stepped Alessia Rourke.
She wasn't wearing her cream wool coat anymore. She was wearing a heavy winter parka, holding a satellite phone in her shaking hand, shouting commands at the tactical team leader.
"Alessia?" I gasped under my breath.
Five minutes later, the gunfire in the hallway stopped completely.
The shattered doors of the medical suite were pushed open. Dante stepped inside, his clothes torn and stained with soot, followed by six armed Chun International operatives.
Behind them walked Victor Chun—the billionaire industrialist from Beijing—and Alessia Rourke.
Two of Chun’s operatives dragged a bloodied, handcuffed Patrick Rourke into the room, forcing him onto his knees before Roman.
Roman lowered his weapon, his chest heaving, his dark eyes shifting from Patrick to Victor Chun.
"Victor," Roman said, surprised. "I didn't expect you in New York until next week."
"I was already in Manhattan for the harbor negotiations, Roman," Victor Chun said calmly, adjusting his leather gloves. "When Miss Rourke called my private line forty minutes ago and told me her father was attempting an unauthorized armed coup against the Bellandi estate... I decided to accelerate my schedule."
Roman turned his cold gaze toward Alessia.
Alessia stood near the shattered doorway, her hair wild from the wind, her face pale but her eyes filled with an absolute, unshakeable resolve.
"Why, Alessia?" Roman asked softly.
Alessia looked at her father kneeling on the floor, and then looked at me lying on the medical bed, holding my pregnant belly.
"Because my father lied to me, Roman," Alessia said, her voice shaking with raw emotion. "He told me Cassandra had agreed to a divorce. He told me she wanted to leave the country. But when she placed her wedding ring in my palm tonight at the dinner table... I saw her eyes. I saw the truth."
Alessia reached into her pocket, pulled out my platinum Tiffany ring, and walked over to my bed.
She knelt beside me, took my trembling hand, and gently slipped the ring back onto my left ring finger.
"She is your wife, Roman," Alessia whispered, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked up at my husband. "She is the mother of your child. I may be a Rourke, but I am not a monster. I will not let my father build an empire on the blood of an innocent mother and her baby."
Patrick Rourke glared at his daughter, spitting blood onto the carpet. "You traitorous little bitch! You ruined everything!"
"No, Father," Alessia said coldly, standing up and looking down at him with utter contempt. "You ruined yourself the moment you thought you could buy a family's soul with shipping contracts."
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Victor Chun stepped forward, looking at Roman. "The Commission has been notified of your father-in-law's treason, Roman. Patrick Rourke’s docks have been seized by the international harbor authority. His family is stripped of all vote and rank in the East Coast syndicate."
Victor looked at me, giving a respectful nod. "Your wife’s red line on that contract tonight didn't just break a deal, Roman. It saved your life."
