Chapter 9 - The Chapel Ledger
Cara told Merrick she needed medication from the central pharmacy.
“At four in the morning?” he asked.
“Dominic Russo is still a critical patient.”
Merrick’s face barely changed.
“You should allow experienced physicians to manage him.”
“Dr. Hale is in security custody.”
“A misunderstanding.”
“He tried to close a chest drain.”
“You are making serious accusations.”
Cara walked past him.
Merrick followed.
The pharmacy was in the opposite direction from the chapel.
Cara entered the women’s restroom and waited inside a stall.
Merrick remained in the hallway for nearly a minute before leaving.
Cara used the maintenance exit at the rear.
The chapel was empty.
Small electric candles glowed beneath colored glass windows.
She found the Saint Michael memorial.
The bottom wooden panel opened when she pressed its right corner.
Inside was a black drive and a handwritten envelope.
A man spoke behind her.
“You should give that to me.”
Cara turned.
Marco Bell stood near the chapel entrance.
The bodyguard whose phone exposed Lorenzo had returned.
His jacket covered one hand.
Cara assumed he held a weapon.
“You abandoned your boss.”
“I chose the man who will still be alive tomorrow.”
“Dominic is alive.”
Marco’s expression tightened.
“Not for long.”
He moved closer.
Cara backed toward the altar.
“You were paid two million dollars.”
“I was promised a future.”
“You already had one.”
“Standing behind Dominic while he gave everything away?”
Marco accused Dominic of betraying the organization.
Hundreds of men depended on the old businesses.
Lorenzo promised to protect them.
Cara looked at him.
“Lorenzo promised you control. That isn’t the same as protecting anyone.”
Marco reached for the drive.
The chapel door opened.
Mrs. Alvarez, an elderly hospital volunteer, entered carrying fresh memorial cards.
Cara had seen her delivering blankets earlier.
Marco turned.
That second was enough.
Cara struck the emergency alarm beside the altar.
Steel fire doors closed at both ends of the corridor.
Marco grabbed her arm.
Mrs. Alvarez swung her metal cane into his wrist.
The object beneath his jacket fell.
It was not a gun.
It was a syringe.
Security reached the chapel seconds later.
Marco was arrested.
Cara recovered the drive.
Inside the envelope was a note from Dominic.
If I do not reach sunrise, give this to Agent Renee Brooks. Trust no one else.
Cara returned upstairs.
Vincent looked at the name.
“Renee Brooks is the federal prosecutor who has been building the case against Dominic for five years.”
Sofia stared at her father.
“You were working with the woman trying to imprison you?”
Dominic opened his eyes.
May you like
“Yes.”
👉 Dominic’s greatest secret was not that he planned to defeat Lorenzo—it was that he intended to surrender himself with the empire.
