Chapter 6 - The Trap Sprung
The morning sun rose behind heavy gray clouds, painting the city in bleak shades of steel.
Elena was sitting on the leather sofa in the penthouse library, reviewing financial spreadsheets that Dante's accountants had provided her. She had spent the last two hours analyzing Marcus's ruined investment portfolio, using the business management degree she had fought so hard to earn.
""He's bankrupt,"" Elena said as Dante walked in, holding two cups of black coffee. She pointed at a highlighted column on the tablet. ""Marcus didn't just borrow money from your firm. He secured personal loans against his father's estate using forged signatures from his mother. If the auditors open these books on Monday, he goes to federal prison for bank fraud.""
Dante handed her a mug, his eyebrows raised in genuine admiration. ""You found that in two hours? My forensic accountants took three days to trace those shell accounts.""
""I managed the bookkeeping at the diner and studied corporate accounting at night,"" Elena said with a small, proud smile. ""I know how to spot someone cooking the books.""
Dante sat beside her, his thigh brushing against hers. ""Which makes what he did next even more predictable. My men intercepted a wire transfer twenty minutes ago. Marcus met with Lorenzo Russo at a private hangar near O'Hare.""
Elena’s heart skipped a beat. ""The Russo family? The New York syndicate?""
""Lorenzo has wanted a foothold in Chicago for a decade,"" Dante explained, his tone deadly calm. ""Marcus offered him the deed to the Aldridge shipping docks on the river in exchange for ten million in cash and two hitmen to take me out.""
""Dante, no!"" Elena grabbed his arm, fear gripping her throat like a vice. ""You can't go near them! It's a trap!""
Dante looked down at her hand clutching his sleeve, his expression softening into something fierce and protective. ""Elena, in my line of work, traps are simply opportunities where the prey doesn't realize the hunter is already behind them.""
Before she could argue, Elena’s personal phone rang on the table. It was an unknown Chicago area code.
Dante gestured for her to answer, tapping the button to route the audio through his encrypted recording system.
""Hello?"" Elena said.
""Elena! Thank God you picked up!"" It was Marcus, his voice erratic, breathless, and soaked in panic. ""Elena, you have to help me. I know you hate me, but please... you have to listen to me!""
Elena hardened her voice. ""What do you want, Marcus?""
""I made a mistake, Elena! Leaving you was the worst decision of my life! Vivien is a monster—her father cut me off, the banks are freezing my accounts, and Dante Salvatore is going to murder me!"" Marcus was practically sobbing on the line. ""Meet me at the old boathouse by Belmont Harbor. Just you. I have documents that prove Salvatore is using you. I can get us out of the country! We can start over with my offshore accounts!""
Elena looked up at Dante. Dante stood watching her, his gray eyes steady, waiting to see what she would choose. He didn't order her. He didn't speak. He allowed her complete freedom.
Elena took a deep, steadying breath. ""Marcus.""
""Yes, baby? Are you coming?""
""You stole my grandmother's ring. You slept with my best friend. You treated me like dirt because I wasn't born with a silver spoon,"" Elena said, every syllable sharp as a scalpel. ""And now that your pathetic house of cards is collapsing, you think I'd run away with you? You are disgusting, Marcus. And whatever happens to you... you brought it entirely on yourself.""
She hung up the phone and threw it onto the table.
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Dante looked at her, a dark, brilliant fire dancing in his eyes. He walked over, cupped her face in both hands, and pulled her in. His lips crashed onto hers—possessive, passionate, and filled with a raw intensity that took the breath straight from her lungs. Elena wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with everything she had.
When they finally broke apart, Dante rested his forehead against hers, his chest heaving. ""Stay here with Romano. Tonight, I end this.""
