Chapter 7 - Blood on the Marble
Dominic lifted his head from Norah’s lap, his eyes transforming into two shards of dark gray ice. He stood up slowly, picking up his weapon from the coffee table.
"Stay on the floor behind the desk," he ordered Norah softly. "No matter what happens, do not stand up."
"Dominic, no—"
"Norah," he looked back at her, a sudden, fierce warmth flashing in his eyes. "I love you. I have loved you since the night in the basement. Now get behind the desk."
Before Norah could process the words echoing in her ears, Dominic pressed a button beneath his desk. A hidden panel in the wall slid open, revealing an armory filled with tactical gear, assault rifles, and body armor.
He strapped a Kevlar vest over his dark sweater, pulled a secondary weapon from the rack, and walked to the center of the room.
"Russo!" the voice outside screamed again. "Five seconds!"
Dominic didn't answer with words. He grabbed a small, black remote from his vest, aimed it at the door hinges, and pressed the trigger.
Small, pre-planted explosive charges along the door frame detonated with a blinding flash and a deafening report. The heavy steel door blew outward into the hallway, crushing the two men standing directly behind it.
Before the smoke could clear, Dominic charged through the ruined doorway, his weapons roaring in the narrow space.
Norah crouched behind the massive mahogany desk, her hands pressed tightly over her ears, her eyes squeezed shut as the sounds of absolute war echoed outside the room. Gunfire, screaming, the thud of heavy bodies falling against walls—it went on for what felt like an eternity.
She prayed. She prayed to whatever God was listening to save the father of her children, to save Lily in the safe room, to let them survive this night of blood.
Then, the gunfire stopped.
A suffocating, heavy silence settled over the compound.
Norah slowly lowered her hands from her ears. She stayed crouched behind the desk, her heart pounding like a trapped bird against her ribs.
"Dominic?" she called out softly, her voice trembling.
No answer.
"Dominic!" she called louder, pushing herself up from the floor using the edge of the desk for balance.
She stepped cautiously around the desk, her feet slipping slightly on scattered papers. She walked toward the ruined doorway, stepping over charred wood and broken drywall.
The hallway outside was a scene of utter devastation. Smoke hung thick in the air, smelling of sulfur and burnt copper. Four bodies in dark tactical gear lay motionless on the ruined marble floor.
And in the center of the hall, leaning heavily against the blood-stained wall, was Dominic.
His Kevlar vest was torn. His face was covered in soot and blood. His left hand was pressed tightly against his abdomen, where bright crimson blood was gushing between his fingers.
"Dominic!" Norah screamed, abandoning all caution as she ran toward him.
She caught him just as his knees buckled. The sheer weight of his heavy frame nearly knocked her down, but she braced her back against the wall, sliding down with him until they were both sitting on the blood-splattered floor.
"Norah..." he rasped, his eyes struggling to focus on her face. His lips were pale, flecked with red foam. "Lily... is she..."
"Lily is safe in the safe room!" Norah cried, tears streaming down her face as she pressed both of her hands over his bleeding wound, trying frantically to stop the flow of blood. "Stay with me, Dominic! Look at me!"
"You... you need to go..." he whispered, his trembling hand lifting up to touch her cheek, leaving a smear of red on her pale skin. "Take the money... in the safe... take Lily... and run..."
"No!" Norah screamed, pressing down harder on his stomach. He groaned in agony, his head falling back against the wall. "I'm not leaving you! Do you hear me, Dominic Russo? You don't get to tell me you love me and then die on this floor! You have a son coming in four months! You are going to teach him how to grow up! You are going to raise him with me!"
Dominic looked at her, a faint, bloody smile touching the corner of his mouth. "You... you're bossy... when you're pregnant..."
"Shut up and stay awake!" she sobbed, pressing her body against his to apply more pressure. "Help! Somebody help us!"
Heavy boots pounded up the stairs. Marco, the head of security, appeared through the smoke, holding an assault rifle, his face pale with shock.
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"Boss!" Marco yelled, dropping to his knees beside them.
"Get Dr. Vance!" Norah screamed at the security chief. "Get him up here now! He's dying!"
