Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO SAVED HER
The stranger who had saved Norah was now trying to kill the only man who could explain why.
That fact followed Dominic all the way to the warehouse.
Norah insisted on coming.
He said no.
She came anyway.
“You have stitches.”
“I also have questions.”
“You were kidnapped six hours ago.”
“I’m aware.”
“You should be sleeping.”
“You should be less controlling.”
“That is never going to happen.”
She sat beside him in the SUV, one silver heel replaced by a borrowed black flat.
The injured shoe remained in a plastic evidence bag.
Dominic had personally ordered it preserved.
Norah thought that was ridiculous.
Mateo thought it was exactly the kind of thing Dominic would do.
At the warehouse, Gavin Pierce lay on a folding cot under armed guard.
His face was gray.
A medic had stabilized him.
Barely.
When Dominic entered, Gavin smiled.
“Black King.”
Dominic hated the nickname.
“Who shot you?”
Pierce coughed.
“No hello?”
“You kidnapped Norah.”
“I borrowed her.”
Dominic stepped forward.
Norah caught his sleeve.
“Alive.”
He stopped.
Barely.
Gavin looked at her.
“You got out.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Who helped me?”
Pierce’s expression changed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The question.”
Norah limped closer.
“Who was he?”
Gavin looked at Dominic.
“You really don’t know?”
Dominic’s patience snapped.
He grabbed Pierce’s collar.
“Name.”
Pierce laughed, then winced.
“Your family has always been bad at keeping track of its dead.”
Norah felt cold.
Dominic released him.
“What does that mean?”
Gavin’s eyes glittered.
“You think Elena was the only secret your father buried?”
Dominic said nothing.
Pierce looked at Norah.
“The man who saved you is named Julian.”
“Julian what?”
Pierce smiled.
“Castile.”
Dominic went completely still.
Norah stared at him.
“Do you know that name?”
“No.”
Gavin laughed.
“You should.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
“Explain.”
“Your father had another son.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Is it?”
“Prove it.”
Gavin nodded toward his jacket.
Mateo searched it and found a small envelope.
Inside was a birth certificate.
Julian Alexander Castile.
Mother: Elena Rose Castile.
Father: blank.
Norah looked up sharply.
“Elena had a child?”
Dominic stared at the document.
His sister had been nineteen when Julian was born.
Nobody had ever told him.
Pierce spoke quietly.
“Your father took the baby.”
“Why?”
“Because Elena wanted to leave the family.”
Dominic’s breathing slowed.
Dangerously.
Pierce continued.
“She planned to take Julian and disappear.”
“And my father stopped her?”
“He did more than stop her.”
Dominic’s face became unreadable.
“Did he kill her?”
Pierce smiled faintly.
“That depends on what you call murder.”
Dominic took one step closer.
Pierce coughed blood into his hand.
“I didn’t kidnap Norah because of the warehouse deal.”
“Then why?”
“Because Julian paid me.”
Norah stared.
“What?”
Pierce nodded.
“He wanted you frightened enough to start asking questions.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed.
“Why use Norah?”
Pierce looked directly at him.
“Because Julian knew you’d burn Chicago to the ground for her.”
The truth in that sentence landed between Dominic and Norah.
Neither spoke.
Pierce smiled weakly.
“He was right.”
Then alarms erupted outside.
Mateo reached for his weapon.
“Boss, movement west side.”
A gunshot shattered the warehouse window.
Everyone dropped.
Dominic pulled Norah to the floor.
Pierce gasped.
A new red stain spread across his chest.
The medic rushed toward him.
Pierce grabbed Norah’s wrist with surprising strength.
“Listen.”
“What?”
He struggled for breath.
“Julian isn’t trying to destroy Dominic.”
Norah leaned closer.
“Then what does he want?”
Pierce’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“To save him.”
“From whom?”
Pierce’s eyes shifted toward Dominic.
May you like
Then he said the name that made Dominic’s face turn white.
“From Mateo.”
