Chapter 5 - The Night the Cabin Was Betrayed
The attack came three nights later.
No warning.
No obvious sound.
Just the sudden failure of the lights.
Norah woke to Lily crying.
Dominic was already standing.
“Stay here.”
He moved toward the door.
Norah grabbed his arm.
“Someone came in.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because the alarm didn't sound.”
Dominic froze.
The silence told him the answer.
Someone had disabled it from inside.
He lifted his gun.
“Stay behind me.”
Lily cried louder.
Norah grabbed her.
The cabin floor creaked.
Dominic fired toward the hallway.
A man shouted.
Then everything erupted.
The windows shattered.
Bullets tore through the walls.
Norah dropped to the floor, curling around Lily.
Dominic moved with brutal precision.
Two shots.
A body fell outside.
Another attacker came through the kitchen window.
Dominic tackled him.
The man slammed into the counter.
Norah screamed when she saw blood.
Then the attacker laughed.
“They know about the boy.”
Dominic's expression changed.
He struck the man's jaw.
“Who sent you?”
The man spat blood.
“Your father.”
Dominic froze.
Norah stared.
“My father is dead.”
“He left instructions.”
The man smiled.
“Your son is the inheritance.”
Dominic dragged him closer.
“What inheritance?”
The attacker refused.
Dominic looked toward Norah.
“Take Lily upstairs.”
Norah shook her head.
“No.”
“Norah.”
“No. We're safer together.”
He stared at her.
Then nodded.
The three of them moved into the reinforced cellar.
Maria arrived ten minutes later.
She was injured.
Norah helped her inside.
Maria was crying.
“I'm sorry.”
Dominic looked at her.
“You were working for them.”
Maria shook her head.
“They have my grandson.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“Where is he?”
“Alive.”
Norah understood.
Everyone around Dominic had something to lose.
That was how his enemies controlled them.
By turning love into a weapon.
They stayed underground until dawn.
When the sun came up, Dominic sat beside Norah.
“We're going back.”
“To the city?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because someone inside my family has been feeding information to them.”
Norah looked at him.
“You don't trust anyone.”
“I trust you.”
The words made her chest tighten.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“What do you know?”
“That you protected Lily when you could have walked away.”
“That you lied because you thought I'd take your child.”
“That you risked your life to save Maria.”
“That you stayed when everyone else ran.”
He took a breath.
“And that you're carrying my son.”
Norah's eyes filled with tears.
Dominic leaned closer.
“I should have protected you from the beginning.”
She whispered, “You didn't know.”
“I should have noticed.”
“You noticed everything.”
He looked at her.
“Not the one thing that mattered.”
He touched her cheek.
Norah closed her eyes.
His forehead rested against hers.
“I was afraid,” he admitted.
“Of what?”
“Loving something I couldn't control.”
Norah opened her eyes.
“You can't control me.”
“I know.”
“Then stop trying.”
He smiled faintly.
“I'll try.”
They returned to the city that afternoon.
The compound was transformed.
Every employee had been removed except Maria and the security team.
Dominic brought Norah through a hidden entrance.
He did not hide her anymore.
He brought her directly into the heart of his house.
The moment they entered, Lily ran toward the library.
There was a hidden panel behind a painting.
Dominic opened it.
Inside was a metal box.
He had never shown it to anyone.
Norah watched as he unlocked it.
Documents.
Photos.
A small key.
And a letter.
The handwriting belonged to his father.
Dominic unfolded the paper.
His face went pale.
“What's wrong?”
He handed it to Norah.
There were only three lines.
If my second grandson is born, the people who own the city will come for him.
Do not trust blood.
Trust the woman who loves him.
Norah stared.
“Second grandson?”
Dominic looked at her.
“My father knew I would have another child.”
“But how?”
Dominic's eyes moved to the key.
“Because he left this before I met you.”
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a tiny gold bracelet.
Engraved on it were two initials.
N.H.
Norah's breath caught.
“What?”
Dominic whispered, “This isn't about my son.”
May you like
She looked at him.
“It’s about you.”
