Chapter 3 - The Uninvited Storm
By Thursday afternoon,
a heavy storm had rolled in over Westchester,
battering the high paned windows of the estate with torrential rain and fierce wind.
The atmospheric pressure inside the mansion was equally heavy.
Dominic sat at the long mahogany table in his formal dining room,
surrounded by four of his top lieutenants.
Maps of city supply lines,
port authority permits,
and financial ledgers were scattered across the table.
The air was thick with tension and the smell of cigar smoke.
Julian Moretti,
a ruthless rival mob captain from the southern district,
sat opposite Dominic,
a sneering grin plastered across his scarred face.
Julian had arrived unannounced with three heavily armed bodyguards,
claiming he wanted to "renegotiate" shipping territory along the Hudson River.
"You're getting greedy,
Vale,
" Julian said,
leaning back and puffing on his cigar,
ashing directly onto the polished floor.
"My men need those docks."
"Your men are incompetent,
Julian,
" Dominic replied smoothly,
his hands folded neatly on the table in front of him.
"They lost two shipments of luxury goods to federal inspectors last month."
"I don't reward failure,
and I certainly don't hand over my territory to men who can't secure their own perimeters."
Julian's smile vanished,
replaced by a ugly,
venomous glare.
"Careful,
Dominic,
" Julian growled,
resting his hands heavily on the table.
"You live up here in your grand palace,
surrounded by quiet and ghosts."
"You think you're untouchable because you don't make noise."
"But quiet men bleed just as red as loud ones."
In the doorway leading to the service kitchen,
Ruby paused,
holding a heavy silver tray laden with fresh coffee,
porcelain cups,
and a pitcher of ice water.
She saw Marcus standing near the wall,
his hand resting discreetly inside his jacket where his shoulder holster was hidden.
She saw Julian's bodyguards shifting their weight,
their eyes darting around the room like predators looking for an angle.
The energy in the room was electric,
dangerous,
and terrifying.
Ruby knew she should step back,
return to the kitchen,
and lock the door.
That was the smart thing to do.
Instead,
she took a deep breath,
adjusted her apron,
and pushed through the double doors into the dining room.
The sudden movement made two of Julian's guards instantly drop their hands to their belts.
Marcus snapped into high alert,
his eyes widening as he saw Ruby walk calmly into the center of a potential gunfight.
Dominic's eyes locked onto her instantly,
a flash of genuine panic flickering in his dark pupils before he suppressed it behind an icy mask.
"What are you doing,
Miss Bennett?" Dominic asked,
his voice low and dangerous.
"Serving coffee,
Mr. Vale,
" Ruby replied smoothly,
stepping right between Dominic and Julian.
"Hospitality is in my job description,
even when guests arrive without an invitation."
Julian blinked,
surprised by her sudden intrusion,
his eyes traveling over her tall,
curvaceous frame with sudden,
unwelcome interest.
"Well,
well,
" Julian sneered,
leaning forward.
"Who is this lovely piece of work?"
"Do you always hire maids with such...
generous proportions,
Dominic?"
"I didn't know you liked them so soft."
The air in the room instantly plunged below freezing.
Dominic slowly stood up from his chair,
drawing himself up to his full six-foot-three height.
The temperature in the room plummeted so fast that Julian's guards stiffened in alarm.
"Julian,
" Dominic said,
his voice so quiet it was almost a whisper,
yet it carried more deadly weight than a loaded gun.
"You will apologize to Miss Bennett for your disrespect."
"Or you will not leave this house on your own two feet."
Julian laughed nervously,
looking around at his men,
but no one else was laughing.
Marcus had already quietly unbuttoned his suit jacket.
Ruby,
unfazed by Julian's insult,
placed a cup of steaming hot coffee directly in front of the rival mobster with a loud,
deliberate clatter against the saucer.
"Careful with that,
sir,
" Ruby said cheerfully,
her voice cutting through the deadly standoff.
"It's boiling hot,
and I'd hate for you to spill it on your cheap suit."
Julian gasped in outrage,
standing up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"You little—"
"Sit down,
Julian,
" Dominic commanded,
stepping around the table and placing himself squarely between Julian and Ruby,
shielding her completely with his broad frame.
"The meeting is over."
"My answer regarding the docks is no."
"Get out of my house."
Julian glared at Dominic,
then at Ruby,
realizing he had lost the tactical advantage and the psychological upper hand.
"This isn't over,
Vale,
May you like
" Julian spat,
turning on his heel and motioning for his men to follow him out into the rain.
