Chapter 5 - The Night Dominic Chose Her Over His Empire
The attack came Saturday night.
Not at Dominic's estate.
At The Foundry.
Sadie had insisted on returning to work.
Dominic hated the idea.
She won the argument.
Barely.
At midnight, the club was crowded.
At twelve-seventeen, the lights died.
Sadie immediately stopped moving.
“Dominic?”
No answer.
Emergency lights came on.
People screamed.
Tables overturned.
Knox appeared beside her.
“Stay behind me.”
Sadie shook her head.
“Where's Dominic?”
“Office.”
They moved through the club.
Then Sadie heard a voice.
“Stop.”
Leo stepped from the hallway.
Sadie stared.
“You're supposed to be gone.”
Leo smiled.
“Dominic underestimated how many friends I have.”
Several men appeared behind him.
Knox moved in front of Sadie.
Leo shook his head.
“We don't want you, Knox.”
“Good.”
Knox cracked his neck.
“Because you cannot have me.”
Sadie whispered:
“Where's Dominic?”
Leo smiled.
“Exactly where we wanted him.”
Sadie moved first.
Chaos followed.
Knox drove into the men blocking the hallway while Sadie slipped past.
She reached Dominic's office.
The door was locked.
“Dominic!”
“Sadie?”
She heard movement inside.
“Back up!”
She kicked beside the lock.
Once.
Twice.
The door opened.
Dominic stood inside with one of his guards.
“You're supposed to be downstairs.”
“You're welcome.”
He caught her shoulders.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Knox?”
“Having the time of his life.”
A crash echoed from the hallway.
Dominic pulled Sadie behind him.
She pushed back.
“Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Putting me behind you.”
“Sadie—”
“I beat Knox.”
“Everyone keeps reminding me.”
Leo appeared at the end of the hallway.
Dominic stepped forward.
Leo smiled.
“Choose.”
“Choose what?”
“Your empire or her.”
Dominic's expression didn't change.
Leo continued.
“Walk away tonight. Give up the docks, the clubs, the routes. She goes home.”
Sadie looked at Dominic.
“Don't.”
Dominic didn't hesitate.
“Done.”
Leo blinked.
Sadie grabbed Dominic's arm.
“Are you insane?”
“Possibly.”
“You built everything you have.”
“I can build it again.”
Leo laughed.
“You'd surrender all of it for a waitress?”
Dominic looked at Sadie.
“No.”
Sadie's face fell slightly.
Dominic continued.
“For Sadie.”
Leo's smile disappeared.
That hesitation gave Knox enough time to appear behind him.
“Hello.”
Leo turned.
Knox seized him.
The remaining men surrendered moments later when Dominic's loyal crews entered from both ends of the hallway.
The takeover had failed.
Dominic looked at Knox.
“You took your time.”
Knox shrugged.
“I had many people to educate.”
Sadie looked at Dominic.
“You really would've surrendered?”
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Because I finally found something I wasn't willing to lose.”
Sadie stared at him.
Then she shook her head.
“You're an idiot.”
“Probably.”
She kissed him anyway.
Knox turned around.
May you like
“Again, I refuse to witness this.”
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