Chapter 13 - THE NIGHT THE MANSION BECAME A TRAP
Piper had never heard a voice so calm in the middle of chaos.
Vincent Rizzo stood somewhere beyond the dark hallway.
His footsteps echoed against the marble.
“Dominic,” he called again.
Piper felt Dominic's hand close around hers.
“Stay behind me.”
She almost laughed.
“You're in a wheelchair.”
“And?”
“And I'm not hiding behind you.”
Even in the darkness, she could feel his irritation.
“Piper.”
“Not now.”
Detective Hayes motioned everyone toward the rear exit.
Two officers moved ahead.
Garrett spoke quietly into his radio.
The security team was securing the perimeter.
But Vincent had entered through an old service passage.
A passage only family members knew existed.
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Of course.”
Piper looked at him.
“What?”
“He helped design this house.”
A gunshot cracked.
Piper flinched.
An officer shouted.
“Police! Drop the weapon!”
Another shot.
Then silence.
Dominic pulled Piper closer.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Stay with me.”
“I am.”
They moved toward the rear staircase.
Suddenly, Vincent appeared at the end of the corridor.
He held a pistol.
His expensive coat was wet from the rain.
He smiled.
“Dominic.”
Dominic stopped.
“It's over.”
Vincent laughed.
“You always were dramatic.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Vincent Rizzo, put down the gun.”
He ignored her.
His eyes moved toward Piper.
“There she is.”
Piper felt sick.
“The little caregiver.”
Dominic's voice became ice.
“Don't look at her.”
Vincent smiled wider.
“She was supposed to be useful.”
Piper raised her chin.
“I get that a lot.”
Vincent's smile vanished.
“You have your father's mouth.”
Piper froze.
“Don't talk about him.”
“Thomas was a nuisance.”
“He was a good man.”
“He was a fool.”
Dominic's hands tightened.
“Enough.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You think this girl loves you?”
Piper's heart stopped.
Dominic didn't answer.
Vincent laughed.
“She came here for money.”
Piper stepped forward.
“Yes.”
Everyone turned.
She looked directly at Vincent.
“I came here because I was broke. Because I was scared. Because I needed a place to sleep.”
Vincent smiled.
“Exactly.”
Piper shook her head.
“But I stayed because Dominic is worth staying for.”
The hallway went silent.
She looked at Dominic.
His eyes were shining.
“And I love him.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Dominic stared at her.
Vincent's expression twisted.
“Pathetic.”
He raised the gun.
Everything happened at once.
Garrett lunged.
Rebecca shouted.
A shot rang out.
Piper screamed.
Garrett fell against the wall.
Dominic grabbed Piper's arm and pulled her down behind his wheelchair.
Police rushed forward.
Vincent tried to retreat.
But officers tackled him before he reached the service passage.
The gun slid across the floor.
Handcuffs clicked.
And suddenly, it was over.
Piper looked toward Garrett.
Blood stained his shoulder.
He was conscious.
Breathing.
An officer pressed a bandage against the wound.
Dominic stared at his security chief.
Garrett managed a weak smile.
“Guess I finally did my job.”
Dominic's expression broke.
“You idiot.”
Garrett laughed, then winced.
Piper began crying.
Dominic reached for her.
“Come here.”
She knelt beside him.
He held her face between his hands.
“You love me?”
Her cheeks burned.
“Terrible timing, I know.”
Dominic smiled through tears.
“Piper.”
“Yes?”
“I've been in love with you since you called me a vampire with a mortgage.”
She laughed.
Then kissed him.
Not because he was powerful.
Not because he was wealthy.
But because he was Dominic.
The man who had learned to laugh again.
The man who had found hope in a life he thought was over.
The man she couldn't imagine leaving.
Behind them, Rebecca received a call.
Her expression changed.
She approached Dominic.
“We found Dr. Harris.”
Dominic looked up.
“And?”
“He's agreed to cooperate.”
Piper's heart raced.
Rebecca continued.
“He admitted Vincent paid him to interfere with your treatment.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
Then Rebecca said something that made the entire hallway go silent.
“Dominic, he also admitted he falsified the original neurological assessment.”
Piper stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
Rebecca swallowed.
“It means Dominic's spinal injury was never as complete as Harris claimed.”
