Chapter 9 - The Ghost From The Past
Downstairs, the atmosphere had shifted from domestic tension to pure chaos.
Mateo was standing over a laptop on the dining room table, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
"What is it?" Leo demanded, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt.
"Traffic cameras in Chicago," Mateo said, pointing to the glowing screen.
"Kensington's men are making moves."
Leo leaned over the table, his eyes narrowing at the grainy footage.
"They're gathering at the docks."
"Yes," Mateo confirmed. "And look who is leading them."
Mateo pressed a button, freezing the video and zooming in on a tall, scarred man in a leather jacket.
Leo's blood ran entirely cold.
"Dominic."
Beatrice hovered near the staircase, listening to the men speak.
She didn't know who Dominic was, but the name seemed to suck all the air out of the room.
"I thought you killed him in Vegas," Mateo said, looking genuinely unnerved.
"I put two bullets in his chest," Leo said, his voice entirely devoid of emotion.
"Clearly, I should have aimed for the head."
Leo stood up straight, his mind already moving ten steps ahead of his enemies.
"Dominic was the bombmaker," Leo said quietly.
Beatrice gasped, stepping out from the shadows of the stairs.
Leo looked at her, his eyes softening slightly, but the lethal edge remained.
"He's the man who built the explosive that killed my wife."
"And Kensington hired him," Mateo concluded, the final piece of the puzzle falling into place.
Leo walked over to a hidden panel in the wall and pressed his thumb against a biometric scanner.
The wall slid open, revealing an armory that could rival a military base.
"Mateo," Leo said, grabbing a heavy tactical vest.
"Get the helicopter ready."
"You're going to Chicago?" Mateo asked, startled.
"I am going to cut the head off the snake."
Leo began loading extra magazines into his vest.
"You will stay here. You will guard Beatrice and Lily with your life."
"I belong by your side in a fight, Boss."
"You belong where I tell you to be," Leo snapped, his authority absolute.
He turned to Beatrice, walking over to her with heavy, purposeful strides.
He reached into his waistband and pulled out a small, sleek 9mm handgun.
He took her trembling hand and pressed the cold metal into her palm.
"I don't know how to use this," Beatrice panicked, trying to hand it back.
"Mateo will show you."
Leo wrapped both of his hands around hers, locking her grip on the weapon.
"I am coming back for you," Leo promised, his eyes burning into her soul.
"But until I do, trust no one but Mateo."
Leo leaned in and pressed a fierce, desperate kiss to her lips.
May you like
It was brief, bruising, and tasted like black coffee and absolute dominance.
Before Beatrice could even open her eyes, he was gone, walking out the door to go to war.
