Chapter 8 - The Cost of Blood
|
By morning, the storm had passed, but Dominic's fever had spiked. He was delirious, muttering in Italian, tossing on the dusty cot. Sophia paced the small cabin, terrified. If his men didn't find them soon, he would die of infection, and she and Lily would freeze to death.
Around noon, the sound of an engine rumbled outside. Sophia grabbed Dominic's gun, standing by the door with her heart hammering in her throat.
"Dominic! Boss!" a voice called out.
Sophia recognized the gruff tone. It was Marco. She unbolted the door, nearly collapsing with relief as Marco and three heavily armed men rushed inside.
"Get the medic kit," Marco snapped, assessing Dominic's wound. He looked up at Sophia, his eyes filled with a begrudging respect. "You kept him alive. You did good, kid."
They loaded Dominic into a heavily armored truck, wrapped in blankets. As they drove toward a secure medical facility in the city, Marco turned to Sophia.
"Alessandro has taken control of the North Side," Marco explained grimly. "He told the Commission that Dominic went mad and ordered a hit on his own brother. Half the families are siding with him. We are officially at war."
Sophia looked down at Lily, who was fast asleep against her chest. "What happens to us?"
May you like
"You stay with the Boss," Marco said. "He gave strict orders before he passed out. If anything happens to you, he'll burn the city to the ground. You're his weakness now, Sophia. And Alessandro knows it."
Sophia looked at the unconscious Mafia boss beside her, realizing she was no longer just a maid. She was the queen on a very dangerous chessboard.
