Chapter 3
“Move away from him, Serena.”
Vincent Romano’s voice was almost gentle.
That made it worse.
Dante kept his hands visible.
Marco stood several yards away, unable to draw without risking Serena.
Patricia emerged from the passage and froze.
“Vincent?”
Vincent glanced at his wife.
“You were supposed to bring her downstairs.”
“She refused.”
“I can see that.”
Serena moved closer to Dante.
Her father noticed.
“So it’s true.”
“What?”
“You chose him.”
Serena’s chin trembled.
“You made this choice for me.”
Vincent sighed.
“I gave you everything.”
“You gave me to him because you wanted access to his family.”
“I gave you a kingdom.”
“No. You made me a spy.”
Vincent’s eyes hardened.
“And you failed at that too.”
Dante felt Serena’s fingers brush his.
A silent warning.
She was afraid.
But she didn’t move away.
Vincent pointed his weapon at Dante’s chest.
“This can still end peacefully.”
Dante almost laughed.
“You burned my docks and invaded my home.”
“Business disagreement.”
“You ordered my death.”
“Business resolution.”
Dante’s gaze sharpened.
Vincent smiled.
“You understand better than anyone.”
“Maybe.”
Dante stepped slightly in front of Serena.
“But threatening my wife made it personal.”
Vincent’s smile disappeared.
“Your wife?”
He looked at Serena.
“He was going to divorce you.”
Serena’s eyes flicked toward Dante’s jacket.
The envelope.
Vincent noticed.
“Show her.”
Dante remained silent.
“Go ahead,” Vincent said. “Let her see how much her great sacrifice meant.”
Serena whispered, “Dante?”
Slowly, Dante removed the crumpled envelope.
He handed it to her.
Serena opened it.
She read the first page.
Her eyes filled.
“You signed them.”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Serena nodded as though she had expected the answer.
Vincent smiled triumphantly.
“You see?”
Then Dante said, “I thought she wanted freedom from me.”
Serena looked up.
“I was wrong.”
The garage became silent.
Dante took the papers from her.
He tore them once.
Then again.
And again.
Pieces fell onto the concrete floor.
Serena stared.
Vincent’s expression twisted.
“What exactly do you think that changes?”
“Everything,” Dante said.
Vincent raised his pistol.
The next few seconds happened almost simultaneously.
Serena shoved Dante sideways.
Marco drew.
Patricia screamed.
A shot cracked through the garage.
Dante hit the ground and pulled Serena with him.
Marco fired toward Vincent’s vehicle.
Vincent ducked behind the SUV.
“Move!” Dante shouted.
Marco covered them while Dante dragged Serena behind a concrete pillar.
“Are you hit?”
“No.”
He checked anyway.
Nothing.
Relief nearly weakened his knees.
Another shot struck the pillar.
Dante returned fire.
Vincent’s men emerged from behind parked vehicles.
It had been an ambush.
Marco’s team responded from the opposite side.
The garage exploded into chaos.
Dante kept Serena behind him.
Then Patricia screamed.
She was stranded near the maintenance door.
Serena turned.
“Mom!”
“Stay here,” Dante ordered.
“That’s my mother!”
Before he could stop her, Serena ran.
“Serena!”
She reached Patricia just as another attacker appeared.
Dante fired.
The man dropped behind a vehicle.
Serena pulled Patricia toward cover.
For the first time that night, Patricia looked at her daughter without contempt.
“You came back for me.”
“You’re my mother.”
“I threatened you.”
“You’re still my mother.”
Patricia began crying.
Dante reached them.
“We’re leaving.”
Marco shouted from across the garage.
“North exit!”
They moved.
A reinforced vehicle reached them seconds later.
Dante pushed Serena and Patricia inside.
Marco climbed into the front.
Dante entered last.
The SUV accelerated toward the ramp.
Shots struck the armored body.
Serena grabbed Dante’s hand.
Neither released the other.
Behind them, Vincent Romano stood in the garage watching his daughter disappear beside the man he had intended to kill.
His expression contained no paternal grief.
Only rage.
The SUV emerged into the rain.
Chicago blurred around them.
For several minutes nobody spoke.
Then Serena looked at Dante.
“I’m sorry.”
Dante turned.
“Stop apologizing.”
“I lied to you for three years.”
“To protect me.”
“I hurt you.”
“Yes.”
She flinched.
Dante immediately softened his voice.
“And we’ll talk about that.”
Serena stared at their joined hands.
“If we survive.”
Dante tightened his fingers around hers.
“When.”
She looked at him.
“When we survive,” he corrected.
For the first time in three years, Serena smiled at him.
Small.
Broken.
Beautiful.
Dante had imagined that smile a thousand times.
He had never expected to see it while escaping an assassination attempt.
Marco interrupted.
“Boss, we’ve got another problem.”
Dante looked forward.
“What now?”
“The betrayal.”
“You found our leak?”
Marco hesitated.
“Possibly.”
“Name.”
“Arthur Pendleton.”
Dante stared at him.
His family lawyer.
The man who had delivered the divorce papers.
The man who knew every property, every security protocol, every emergency route.
“No,” Dante said.
Marco handed him a phone.
“There are transfers from Romano shell companies into an account connected to Arthur.”
Dante studied the screen.
Serena watched his expression.
“What does it mean?”
Dante thought about the papers.
Arthur had encouraged the divorce.
Arthur had assured him Vincent wouldn’t retaliate.
Arthur knew Dante would personally bring the documents to Serena that night.
Meaning Arthur knew exactly where Dante would be when the attack began.
Dante lifted his eyes.
“It means your father wasn’t the only person who wanted me dead.”
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
Dante answered.
Arthur Pendleton’s voice came through.
“Dante.”
The older man sounded calm.
“Arthur.”
“I imagine Marco has told you.”
“He has.”
“Then there’s no reason to pretend anymore.”
Dante’s eyes went cold.
“Why?”
Arthur sighed.
“Your father would have understood.”
“My father trusted you.”
“Your father understood that empires survive through evolution. You don’t.”
“What do you want?”
“Control.”
Dante almost smiled.
“At least you’re finally honest.”
Arthur continued.
“Vincent thinks he’s taking the Cavali organization tonight. He’s mistaken.”
Serena leaned closer, listening.
“Once Vincent eliminates you,” Arthur said, “I eliminate Vincent.”
Dante understood.
Arthur had manipulated both families.
“You started the war.”
“I created an opportunity.”
“And Serena?”
Arthur paused.
“She was supposed to leave with her mother.”
Serena’s expression hardened.
“And if she didn’t?” Dante asked.
Arthur’s silence answered.
Dante looked at his wife.
Something ruthless settled behind his eyes.
Arthur continued.
“You still have time. Walk away. I can arrange passage out of the country.”
Dante said nothing.
“You’ve lost the docks. Your security is compromised. Half your captains don’t know who to trust.”
Arthur lowered his voice.
“You have nothing left.”
Dante looked at Serena.
She was still holding his hand.
For three years he had believed his marriage was empty.
Tonight he had discovered that the woman beside him had sacrificed everything to keep him alive.
Dante answered calmly.
“You’re wrong.”
He ended the call.
Serena whispered, “What do we do?”
Dante looked toward the rain-covered city.
“We find out who’s still loyal.”
“And then?”
Dante’s expression became dangerously calm.
“We take our home back.”
But across town, Arthur Pendleton was already opening a safe containing something far more dangerous than money.
A collection of documents that could destroy both the Cavali and Romano families without firing another shot.
And on top of those documents was a photograph of Serena taken years before her wedding.
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On the back, someone had written two words:
FINAL LEVERAGE.
