Chapter 4 - The Sister Who Vanished and the Enemy Who Knew Avery’s Weakness
Claire Hart disappeared for eighteen hours.
For eighteen hours, Dominic's men searched every warehouse, hotel, highway exit and hospital within seventy miles of Chicago.
Avery barely spoke.
She sat in Dominic's penthouse wrapped in a blanket, staring at the city.
“I should have known.”
Dominic remained several feet away.
“Known what?”
“That Claire was hiding something.”
“She's your sister.”
“She always tries to protect me.”
“That's not a crime.”
Avery laughed bitterly.
“It might be.”
Dominic sat across from her.
“You need to sleep.”
“I can't.”
“You haven't slept in thirty hours.”
“How am I supposed to sleep when my sister is missing?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Because he understood.
He would have burned Chicago down for family once.
Now he might do it for Avery.
At four in the morning, Marcus returned.
“We found the vehicle.”
Avery stood.
“Where?”
“Near an abandoned print facility.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Who's inside?”
“Three armed men. No sign of Claire.”
“Then they're baiting us.”
Avery looked at him.
“They know we'll come.”
“Yes.”
“Then don't.”
Dominic frowned.
“Don't go because they expect you to?”
“Exactly.”
“You're learning quickly.”
“I've been around you too long.”
He almost smiled.
Instead, he reached for her hand.
Avery looked down.
His fingers wrapped around hers.
He did not release her.
Neither did she.
“I need you to stay here,” he said.
“No.”
“Avery.”
“No.”
“I won't risk you.”
“You're not my owner.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“I know.”
“Then trust me.”
He looked at her.
Finally he nodded.
They went together.
The facility was dark.
Dominic's security team entered first.
Gunfire erupted.
Avery ducked behind a concrete column.
Dominic moved toward her.
“I told you to stay back.”
“You brought me.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Too late.”
A man emerged from the shadows and grabbed Avery.
Dominic fired.
The man dropped.
Avery froze.
Dominic reached her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
His hands searched her arms, shoulders, face.
Then he stopped.
His breathing was uneven.
Avery touched his wrist.
“Dominic.”
He looked at her.
For one second the ruthless crime boss disappeared.
Only a frightened man remained.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You didn't.”
He pulled her into his arms.
Avery went still.
He held her as though she were something fragile.
She slowly wrapped her arms around him.
It was the first time they had truly embraced.
Dominic whispered against her hair.
“I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything.”
Claire was not there.
But they found something worse.
A file.
Inside were photographs of Avery from childhood.
School.
Graduation.
College.
The Lakehaven.
Dominic looked at them.
“He's been watching your family for years.”
Avery stared.
“Why?”
A note answered the question.
Because your father stole something.
They returned to the penthouse.
There Dominic finally told Avery the truth.
In 2001, his father and Avery's father had run a private financial operation together.
It wasn't merely legitimate business.
They had been laundering money for several criminal groups.
Then Avery's father discovered evidence of a larger organization.
He wanted out.
Richard Vale refused.
Avery's father threatened to expose everyone.
Then the warehouse burned.
Avery's parents were believed dead.
But Dominic's mother had later confessed privately that they had been helped to escape.
She had left Dominic behind because she believed the people hunting them would kill him if they knew he was connected.
“She abandoned me,” Dominic said.
“She saved you.”
“I was seventeen.”
Avery's eyes softened.
“You survived.”
“Yes.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
Avery reached across the table.
She took his hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Dominic looked at her fingers.
“You shouldn't be.”
“It feels strange.”
“What does?”
“That our families were connected before we met.”
He looked up.
“I've been thinking the same thing.”
Then the penthouse lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Dominic threw Avery to the floor.
Glass exploded across the room.
Security rushed in.
Dominic covered Avery with his body.
“Stay down.”
Another shot.
Then silence.
Avery's heart pounded.
Dominic rose carefully.
Marcus entered.
“No shooter.”
Dominic looked toward the shattered glass.
On the floor sat a small black envelope.
Inside was a handwritten message.
Bring Avery to the old Lakehaven basement.
Come alone.
Or Claire dies.
Avery's face drained of color.
Dominic looked at her.
“You're not going.”
Avery stood.
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“She’s my sister.”
“And you're the target.”
“Then that's why they chose me.”
Dominic stared at her.
He knew she was right.
And he hated it.
Because for the first time in his life, there was someone he could not command to safety.
He could only choose whether to stand beside her.
“I’m coming with you,” he said.
Avery nodded.
Then she surprised him.
She stepped close.
“I trust you.”
Dominic touched her cheek.
“And I love you.”
She froze.
He hadn't meant to say it yet.
But there it was.
The truth.
Avery whispered, “Say that again.”
Dominic's voice broke slightly.
“I love you.”
She smiled through tears.
“I love you too.”
For one beautiful second, the city outside disappeared.
Then Dominic’s phone rang.
Marcus answered.
His face changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Claire.”
“Alive?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Yes.”
Dominic went still.
“Where?”
“At a hospital.”
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“Why?”
“Because she was shot.”
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