Chapter 5 - The Surgeon's Strike
Arthur collapsed heavily onto the steel floor of the panic room, gasping desperately for air.
His face turned a dangerous shade of purple as his airway completely swelled shut.
Dominic quickly rushed forward and pulled his mother to safety, keeping his weapon trained on the dying mob boss.
"What did you do to him?" Dominic asked, staring at the struggling man in complete shock.
Hannah walked calmly over to Arthur, looking down at him without a single ounce of pity.
"When I was tending to your mother earlier, I noticed Arthur left his personal inhaler on the library desk during the party," Hannah explained smoothly.
"I quickly swapped the albuterol canister with a highly concentrated dose of liquid digitalis I found in Vanessa's purse."
"He just inhaled a massive, lethal cardiac stimulant."
Eleanor laughed out loud, a harsh, delighted sound that echoed in the dark room.
"I always knew I liked this girl," the matriarch declared proudly.
Arthur clawed weakly at Hannah's shoes, his eyes bulging with absolute terror as his heart rapidly failed.
"Please," Arthur wheezed, his arrogant demeanor entirely broken.
Hannah knelt beside him, leaning in close so only he could hear her final words.
"You ruined my life for a two-million-dollar debt, Arthur," Hannah whispered coldly.
"Consider my account officially settled."
Arthur Sterling’s eyes rolled back, and his body went entirely limp on the cold steel floor.
Dominic watched the brilliant, ruthless young woman stand up, entirely amazed by her flawless execution.
She had neutralized the most powerful rival boss in Chicago without firing a single bullet.
"We need to get out of the house," Dominic ordered, checking his spare magazines.
"Arthur's men will realize he is dead soon, and they will burn this estate to the ground."
They moved quickly through the secret servant passages, avoiding the remaining mercenaries searching the main floors.
They reached the underground garage where Dominic’s armored black SUV was waiting.
Dominic helped his mother into the back seat and ordered Hannah into the passenger side.
He hit the heavy accelerator, smashing the vehicle violently through the reinforced garage doors.
They tore out into the freezing Chicago rain, dodging a hail of gunfire from the startled guards outside.
Dominic drove recklessly through the city, heading toward a secure, off-the-grid safehouse owned by his family.
The safehouse was a massive, heavily fortified penthouse overlooking the dark waters of Lake Michigan.
Once they were safely inside, Dominic poured a glass of expensive whiskey and handed it to Hannah.
"You saved my mother's life twice tonight, Doctor Reed," Dominic said quietly, looking deeply into her gray eyes.
"I am in your debt."
Hannah took a slow sip of the burning liquid, her hands finally stopping their nervous shaking.
"I don't want your debt, Mr. Moretti," Hannah replied softly.
"I just want my medical license back."
Dominic stepped closer, his imposing presence completely filling her personal space.
"I can buy you a hospital by tomorrow morning," Dominic promised fiercely.
"But I want you to stay here, with me."
Before Hannah could answer his intense, unexpected confession, the secure penthouse phone began to ring.
Dominic answered it, putting the call on speaker.
"Hello, Dominic," a smooth, chillingly familiar voice echoed from the device.
Dominic froze, all the blood completely draining from his face.
"Walter?" Dominic asked, recognizing the voice of his trusted, sixty-eight-year-old steward.
May you like
"I am afraid Arthur Sterling was just a useful idiot, my boy," Walter laughed softly.
"Thank you for eliminating the competition for me."
