Chapter 7 - THE CHAPEL BELOW THE RIVER
Snow covered the chapel courtyard.
Dominic entered with Daniel and six loyal guards.
Mia remained inside the main house with Harper.
Claire was moved to a reinforced room beneath the eastern wing.
The dead man lay across the chapel floor.
His name was Anthony Bell.
He had served under Nathan for eleven years.
A silver bird had been cut into the skin above his heart.
Daniel examined the body.
“He was shot first.”
“The carving came afterward.”
Dominic looked toward the altar.
Nathan had left a message.
Not for Anthony.
For Dominic.
A trail of blood led behind the carved wooden screen.
The hidden stairway beneath the chapel stood open.
Dominic descended.
The tunnel smelled of river water and rust.
Stone walls curved beneath the estate.
His grandfather had used the passage to move liquor during Prohibition.
Dominic’s father used it to hide weapons.
Dominic had sealed it after taking control.
Nathan had opened it again.
At the end of the tunnel, they found an iron door.
Fresh explosives had been attached to the hinges.
Daniel crouched beside the wires.
“They are not designed to open the door.”
“They are designed to collapse the tunnel.”
Dominic studied the device.
Nathan expected pursuit.
He also expected time.
A sound came from the darkness behind them.
One of the guards turned.
A bullet struck him in the throat.
Gunfire exploded through the tunnel.
Dominic and Daniel dropped behind a stone support.
Two of Nathan’s men fired from a side passage.
Dominic returned fire.
One man fell.
The second retreated toward the river exit.
Daniel chased him.
Dominic stayed near the explosive device.
A phone rang on the ground beside the dead guard.
Dominic answered.
Nathan spoke.
“You always were difficult to kill.”
“Come back and try it yourself.”
Nathan laughed.
“You still think this is about killing you.”
“What do you want?”
“The pendant.”
“You had five years to find it.”
“I did not know your maid had been wearing it around my house.”
“She outplayed you.”
“She hid behind a child.”
“No.”
“She protected one.”
Nathan became quiet.
Then he said, “Bring the pendant to Saint Agnes Cathedral on Saturday.”
“That is where you planned to marry Claire.”
“That is where every family in New York will be watching.”
“Come alone.”
“Why would I?”
“Because I have Sofia Reyes.”
The line disconnected.
Dominic stared at the phone.
Detective Reyes was alive.
Nathan had held her for five years.
Daniel returned with blood on his sleeve.
“The second man escaped through the river gate.”
Dominic showed him the phone.
“Sofia is alive.”
Daniel looked toward the explosive device.
“This could be another trap.”
“It is.”
“What are you going to do?”
Dominic removed the memory card from his watch.
“Give Nathan the one thing he cannot resist.”
“The truth?”
Dominic looked toward the dark tunnel.
May you like
“No.”
“An audience.”
