Chapter 6 - The Fortress
Dorian did not take her to a hospital or a hotel.
He drove them an hour north of the city to a massive, heavily fortified stone estate hidden in the deep woods.
The property was surrounded by electrified gates and armed guards who owed their lives solely to Dorian.
Victor had no authority here.
Dorian carried Marin inside and placed her on a massive four-poster bed in the master suite.
She was in shock, staring blankly at the dark wood ceiling.
Dorian brought her a glass of warm tea and sat on the edge of the mattress.
"Drink this," he urged gently.
Marin took the glass with trembling hands, but she didn't drink.
"Who was it?" she asked, her voice hollow and fragile.
"Who killed Daniel?"
Dorian sighed, the weight of his violent life finally catching up to him.
"His name is Victor Silas," Dorian admitted.
"He is my second-in-command."
"He has been embezzling millions of dollars through shell companies for years."
"Daniel caught him."
Tears finally spilled over Marin's eyelashes, tracing hot paths down her cheeks.
"Why are you helping me?" she cried softly.
"You are a criminal, Mr. Vance."
"You deal with men like Victor every day."
"Why do you care about a cleaning lady?"
Dorian looked at her, his dark eyes filled with a raw, undeniable sincerity.
"Because in my entire life, no one has ever looked at me without wanting something."
"You didn't know who I was, and you didn't care."
"You were just surviving."
He reached out, his thumb gently wiping away her tears.
"And because Titan likes you," Dorian added, a faint, sad smile touching his lips.
The massive dog had already jumped onto the foot of the bed, resting his heavy head against Marin’s injured leg.
Marin looked at the terrifying mob boss and saw something she never expected.
Loneliness.
Dorian Vance was the most powerful man in Chicago, and he was completely alone.
She reached out, her small fingers wrapping around his massive, calloused hand.
"Thank you for saving me," she whispered.
Dorian turned his hand over, lacing his fingers through hers.
"I will not stop until Victor is dead," Dorian promised.
"But I need proof."
"Victor controls half the men in my syndicate."
"If I kill him without exposing his treason, it will start a civil war that will burn this city to the ground."
Marin suddenly sat up, her eyes widening in realization.
She reached under her shirt and pulled out Daniel's broken watch.
"Daniel was acting strange the week before he died," Marin said rapidly.
"He kept telling me that if anything ever happened to him, I had to keep this watch safe."
Dorian’s eyes locked onto the silver timepiece.
He took it from her trembling hands.
May you like
It wasn't just broken.
It had been intentionally pried open.
