Chapter 13 - The Golden Cage
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The transition from maid to personal assistant happened overnight. Sloan no longer wore the scratchy, black-and-white uniform. She was given an expensive, tailored navy pantsuit and a desk positioned right outside Fallon’s private study.
It felt like a massive promotion, but Sloan knew the terrifying truth: it was a golden cage. Fallon hadn't promoted her because he trusted her. He promoted her so he could watch her every single move.
For three days, Sloan managed his chaotic schedule. She fielded phone calls from dirty politicians, scheduled quiet meetings with union leaders, and poured Fallon’s whiskey exactly how he liked it—two fingers, neat.
The tension in the office was thick enough to choke on. Fallon rarely spoke to her about anything other than business, but she could constantly feel his heavy, dark eyes tracking her across the room. He was a terrifying, intimidating man, but up close, Sloan noticed the deep, exhausted lines around his eyes. He was a king surrounded by enemies, completely alone.
“Sloan,” Fallon said one evening, looking up from a stack of shipping manifests. “Cancel my dinner with the Mayor. Dante is coming over tonight instead. Tell the kitchen to prepare the good steaks.”
Sloan’s blood ran ice cold. Dante. The Underboss. The man who had ordered the murder of Fallon’s wife.
“Right away, Mr. Caruso,” Sloan managed to say, keeping her voice completely steady despite the violent trembling in her hands.
She left the office and hurried down to the kitchen to deliver the message. On her way back, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly into the dark linen closet.
It was Leo.
“You’re getting too comfortable in that suit,” Leo hissed in the darkness, pinning her against the wall. “Have you forgotten why we’re here? We need to get that ledger out of the house. Tonight.”
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“I can't,” Sloan whispered urgently. “Fallon is watching me constantly. And Dante is coming over tonight.”
Leo’s eyes flashed with sudden, dangerous excitement. “Dante is coming? Perfect. This is exactly what we need.”
