Chapter 3 - The Apex Predator
Derek’s knees visibly buckled. "No! I swear, I didn't know it was yours! I didn't even know she was pregnant! It was just a stupid comment!"
Britney finally understood the gravity of the situation. She ripped her hand away from Derek's and backed against the wall, utterly terrified.
Dominic stopped inches from Derek. The sheer, overwhelming power radiating from the mafia boss forced Derek to shrink, his previous arrogance entirely crushed.
"You are a junior partner at Vanguard Financial, aren't you, Derek?" Dominic asked calmly, adjusting his pristine silk cuffs.
Derek nodded frantically, desperate for a lifeline. "Yes, sir. I work with corporate accounts. If there's anything I can do—"
"There isn't," Dominic interrupted flawlessly. "Because I bought Vanguard Financial three days ago through a shell corporation. You no longer have a job. You no longer have a pension. And since I am going to blacklist your name across every firm in the Midwest, you will never sit in a leather chair again."
Derek gasped, clutching his chest as if he had been physically shot. "Please, Mr. Russo. I have a mortgage. I have—"
May you like
"You have twenty-four hours to leave Chicago," Dominic commanded, his voice dropping to a demonic whisper. "If I ever see your face in this city again, if I ever hear that you breathed a word about my child to a single living soul... they won't even find your teeth."
Derek didn't argue. He didn't look back at Britney or me. He turned and sprinted down the hallway, shoving past the guards in a desperate, pathetic scramble for his life. Britney let out a sob and ran in the opposite direction.
