Chapter 7 - The Trap Closes
The words hung in the air like a death sentence, freezing every drop of blood in my veins. My uncle’s men had found me, meaning Liam was sitting in our apartment right in the line of fire.
“Liam,” I gasped, spinning away from Alessandro and grabbing for my phone in my pocket. “Liam is still at the apartment. He doesn't know anything about this!”
Alessandro moved with terrifying speed, snatching his tailored suit jacket from the back of the sofa and sliding his arms into the sleeves while barking orders at his security team.
“Get a chopper ready on the roof immediately,” Alessandro commanded, his voice turning into cold, sharp steel. “And dispatch a tactical team to the Vance-Carter residence. If anyone lays a hand on anyone in that apartment, I want them neutralized.”
“No, don't hurt Liam!” I cried out, grabbing Alessandro’s sleeve with desperate strength. “He’s my best friend! He’s innocent!”
“Nobody is going to hurt your friend, Elizabeth, but we are out of time for games,” Alessandro said, looking down at me with absolute authority. “Your uncle knows you’re pregnant.”
The revelation hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled back against the desk, my hands flying to my stomach as the terror inside me turned into pure ice.
“How... how could he possibly know?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I just found out this morning!”
“Blood tests at the diner clinic where you picked up your prescription last week,” Alessandro said grimly, pulling me toward the private elevator. “Your uncle’s medical contacts are deeper than you think. He wants you out of the picture before you turn twenty-six and your grandfather’s trust legally reverts back to you.”
The pieces of the puzzle clicked together with horrifying clarity. The accident that killed my parents wasn't just bad luck, and my uncle’s fake embezzlement charges weren't just a coincidence—it was all a premeditated plot to steal my inheritance.
And now, carrying Alessandro’s child, I wasn't just a runaway college student anymore. I was a walking target holding the future heir to the Vitali empire.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the rooftop helipad where a twin-engine chopper was already spinning its blades against the rainy Chicago night. The wind whipped our hair around as Alessandro pulled me toward the cabin, shielding me with his own body.
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“Where are we going?” I shouted over the deafening roar of the rotor blades.
“To my private estate outside the city,” Alessandro shouted back, strapping me securely into the leather seat before climbing in beside me. “Nobody touches you, and nobody touches your child. Not your uncle, not anyone.”
