Chapter 5 - THE FAMILY WAR AND THE BLOOD ON THE LEDGER
Vincent’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. They were cold, calculating, and dead—the kind of eyes you only see in people who view human lives as line items on a balance sheet. He walked closer to the edge of the bed, his expensive leather shoes clicking softly against the hardwood floor.
“Leo tried to stop me at the gates,” Vincent continued, casting a dismissive glance back toward the doorway where Leo stood flanked by two of Dominic’s loyal guards. “But loyal dogs only bark as loud as their master allows. And right now, Dominic, your bark sounds more like a wheeze.”
Dominic slowly turned his head. Even lying shirtless and feverish in a dimly lit room, he radiated a terrifying authority that made Vincent’s guards instinctively tense their shoulders.
“You think because my shoulder took a bullet, the throne is vacant?” Dominic’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“The throne isn't vacant, cousin. It’s just being upgraded,” Vincent replied smoothly, unbuttoning his jacket and resting his hands casually on his hips. He gestured to one of the guards behind him. “Open the briefcase.”
The guard clicked open the leather case on the mahogany writing desk, revealing stacks of crisp hundred-dollar bills and a thick stack of shipping manifests.
“The port authority in Newark signed off on the new distribution routes this morning,” Vincent said, pride swelling in his voice. “Without your signature. Which means, legally and financially, the Rossi family syndicate is moving in a new direction. A modern direction. One that doesn’t involve your antiquated rules about who we do business with.”
I stood quietly near the IV pole, feeling entirely out of my depth. This wasn't nursing anymore; this was organized crime unfolding inches away from my stethoscope. I slowly reached down to pick up my canvas duffel, hoping to slip out the side door unnoticed.
“Stay where you are, Nurse Hayes,” Dominic commanded without looking at me. His eyes remained locked on Vincent.
Vincent’s gaze flicked toward me for the first time, a smirk playing on his lips. “Ah, yes. The nurse. Does she know what happens to people who stick around the Rossi estate when family business gets complicated? It gets messy, sweetheart. You might want to pack your little bag and catch a ride down the mountain before your rusted sedan gets towed.”
“My car runs fine,” I lied smoothly, clutching my duffel tighter. “And as for messy, I used to work the trauma bay on Friday nights in downtown. I’ve seen messier things than a family squabble over shipping containers.”
Vincent’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, surprised by my calm demeanor. Then he turned back to Dominic. “She has spirit. Too bad she’s about to be unemployed. Sign the transfer papers, Dom. Save yourself the humiliation of being voted out by the board before your infection finishes the job.”
Dominic stared at the papers on the desk. A heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the room. The rain beat harder against the glass windows, matching the frantic rhythm of my own pulse.
Then, Dominic began to laugh.
May you like
It was a low, dark, rumbling sound that started deep in his chest and made his injured shoulder wince. He slowly pushed himself up against the pillows, his dark eyes locking onto Vincent with terrifying clarity.
“Vinnie,” Dominic whispered, his voice dripping with chilling amusement. “You always were ambitious. But you were never smart.”
