Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO LOST EVERYTHING
Vincent stood inside the Foundry surrounded by empty tables.
The club was silent.
No music.
No customers.
No laughter.
Dominic walked in alone.
Vincent raised his gun.
“You destroyed everything.”
Dominic stopped.
“You did that.”
“I built your empire.”
“You built my father's prison.”
Vincent laughed.
“Your father was weak.”
“My father was a monster.”
Vincent's smile faded.
“And you're different?”
Dominic looked around the empty club.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don't need people to fear me.”
Vincent raised the gun.
“You'll never be free.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“You're wrong.”
Police sirens sounded outside.
Vincent looked toward the windows.
Sadi appeared behind Dominic.
Vincent stared at her.
“You.”
Sadi walked forward.
“You wanted the last Mercer.”
Vincent's face changed.
“You were supposed to die.”
“My father made sure I didn't.”
She held up the pendant.
“The key.”
Vincent's eyes widened.
Sadi smiled.
“You spent eight years looking for something you thought belonged to you.”
She opened the pendant.
“It never did.”
Vincent raised his gun.
Dominic moved.
But Sadi was faster.
She kicked the weapon away.
Vincent lunged.
She sidestepped.
He crashed into the bar.
Dominic grabbed him.
Police stormed inside.
Vincent was arrested.
The city watched the most powerful criminal organization in Chicago collapse in a single night.
Months later, Dominic stood before a judge.
He handed over the remaining records.
He surrendered businesses connected to his father's crimes.
He cooperated.
He walked away from the empire.
The newspapers called him a traitor.
Others called him a hero.
Dominic didn't care.
He only cared about one person.
Sadi.
She was waiting outside.
“How does it feel?”
He looked at the courthouse.
“Free.”
She smiled.
“What now?”
He took her hand.
“Whatever you want.”
She thought for a moment.
“I want my father's gym back.”
“Done.”
“And my mother's house.”
“Done.”
“And I want you to stop trying to solve every problem with money.”
He smiled.
“That one might take longer.”
She laughed.
Then she kissed him.
The man who had once been feared by an entire city finally looked peaceful.
But their story wasn't finished.
Because three months later, Sadi found a letter hidden inside Caleb Mercer's old gym.
The handwriting was her father's.
May you like
The first sentence made her blood run cold.
If Dominic ever gives up the empire, give him this.
