Chapter 10 – THE UNPAID DEBT

“I’ll handle this,” I said immediately, standing up. “I have the money you gave me, Dominic. I’ll pay him off.”

“No,” Dominic said sharply.

He stood up, his massive frame towering over the room.

“You do not pay extortionists, Nora. You bury them.”

“He’s dangerous, Mr. Moretti,” Maya cried. “He has a dozen men operating out of the old rail yards.”

“I have a hundred men operating out of this house,” Dominic replied coldly.

He walked to his desk and pressed the intercom. “Gather the tactical team. We’re paying a visit to the rail yards.”

I grabbed his arm. “Dominic, please. Your mother’s letter. You said you were going legitimate. You don’t have to do this for us.”

Dominic looked down at my hand on his arm. Then he looked into my eyes.

“Going legitimate means I don’t traffic drugs or run rackets,” Dominic said softly. “It doesn’t mean I let people hurt my family.”

My breath hitched. Family.

“Stay here with Maya,” he ordered. “Call the estate doctor.”

For three hours, I paced the library while the doctor tended to Maya’s bruises. Margaret and Rose sat with her, bringing her hot tea and wrapping her in the famous handmade quilt Margaret had sewn.

At 9:00 PM, the front doors opened.

Dominic walked in, brushing snow from his dark wool coat. He wasn’t bleeding. He didn’t even look out of breath.

I ran into the foyer. “What happened?”

He took off his gloves.

“Tommy Vance no longer operates in Chicago. He’s on a bus to Nevada with a broken jaw and a very clear understanding of what happens if he ever says the name ‘Collins’ again.”

I let out a massive breath of relief, covering my face with my hands. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Dominic stepped closer. He gently pulled my hands away from my face.

“You never have to be afraid again, Nora. None of you do.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, navy-blue velvet box.

My heart did a strange, wild flutter.

He held it out to me.

“Open it.”

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