Chapter 12 - A Dangerous Game
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The plan was highly dangerous, relying entirely on deception. I was to act as the panicked, overwhelmed nurse. We returned to a secondary penthouse—a decoy location Marco knew about.
I called Marco’s private line using a burner phone, my voice shaking with perfectly acted hysteria.
“Mr. Marco? It’s Nora. Vincent’s nurse,” I stammered into the receiver.
“What is it?” Marco answered, his tone instantly sharp and eager.
“He’s… he’s losing his mind,” I cried, pacing the room while Vincent watched me from the couch, an impressed smirk on his face. “The trauma from the attack… he won't let his guards near him. He fired Silas. He’s completely isolated in the study, heavily sedated. I don't know what to do. I’m terrified.”
“Calm down, Nora,” Marco said, poorly masking his triumphant glee. “You did the right thing calling me. I’m the underboss now. Where are you?”
“The South Loop penthouse. Please hurry. He’s completely defenseless.”
I hung up the phone and looked at Vincent. “He bought it.”
“He’s greedy,” Vincent said, checking the magazine of his pistol. “Greed makes men stupid.”
“What happens now?” I asked, my heart finally starting to hammer with real fear.
“Now, Marco calls Elena. He tells her the King is broken and alone. They will come tonight to finish the job,” Vincent said, standing up. He walked over to me, placing his hands gently on my shoulders.
“Silas has a tactical team waiting in the empty apartments above and below us. You are going to wait in the panic room behind the library,” Vincent instructed, his gray eyes intense and protective. “You do not come out, no matter what you hear. Do you understand me, Nora?”
“I’m not hiding while you fight,” I argued, grabbing his wrists.
“You are my heart now, Nora,” Vincent whispered, his voice dropping into a rough, desperate plea. “If they see you, if they hurt you… I will burn this entire city to the ground. Please. Go to the safe room.”
May you like
I looked at the terror in his eyes—not fear for himself, but fear for me. I nodded slowly. “Okay. But you better survive, Vincent Mercer. Or I will kill you myself.”
He smiled, kissing my forehead softly. “I promise.”
