Chapter 7: The Consortium
Chapter 7: The Consortium
Rain hammered the concrete outside the garage as the black convoy rolled to a stop.
The men who emerged moved with terrifying precision.
No tattoos.
No flashy suits.
No visible emotions.
Just black tactical uniforms and cold professionalism.
Even Dominic's guards looked nervous.
That frightened Sophie more than anything.
"Who are they?" she whispered.
Dominic slowly pushed himself upright despite the blood soaking his shirt.
"The people behind everything."
The lead figure stepped forward.
A tall woman with silver-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
She didn't carry a weapon.
She didn't need one.
The confidence in her walk told everyone she was the most dangerous person present.
"Dominic Moretti."
Her voice echoed through the garage.
"You've made this far more difficult than necessary."
Dominic laughed bitterly.
"You murdered my wife."
The woman didn't deny it.
Instead, she smiled.
"Your wife stole something that belonged to us."
Sophie's grip tightened around Matteo.
The baby had finally fallen asleep again.
Completely unaware that his life hung in the balance.
The woman noticed.
Her eyes settled on him.
"There he is."
A chill crawled down Sophie's spine.
She instinctively stepped backward.
The woman noticed that too.
"You must be Sophie."
Sophie froze.
"How do you know my name?"
"We know everything."
The answer was immediate.
Confident.
Terrifying.
The woman glanced toward Dominic.
"Hand over the child and the flash drive."
"No."
The refusal came from Sophie before Dominic could speak.
The woman blinked.
Surprised.
Then amused.
"You have courage."
"I have common sense."
The woman tilted her head.
"Interesting."
Sophie swallowed her fear.
"If you wanted the flash drive, you wouldn't have murdered people to get it."
The smile disappeared.
For the first time, the woman looked annoyed.
Because Sophie was right.
This was bigger than stolen information.
Much bigger.
Dominic suddenly laughed.
A rough, painful sound.
"You still don't understand."
The woman turned toward him.
His dark eyes gleamed.
"My wife sent copies."
The entire garage went silent.
The woman's expression changed instantly.
Not anger.
Fear.
Actual fear.
"You lie."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
The woman took a step forward.
"Where?"
"Safe."
Another step.
"Where?"
Dominic smiled.
The smile of a man who finally possessed leverage.
"You'll never find them."
The woman's calm façade cracked.
For years she had controlled the board.
Now someone else had made a move.
And she hated it.
A gun appeared in her hand.
Instantly.
Silently.
Aimed directly at Dominic's head.
"Then you have become useless."
Sophie saw the trigger move.
Everything happened at once.
Gunfire exploded.
Guards shouted.
Bodies collided.
The garage descended into chaos.
But this time the Consortium wasn't prepared.
Because Dominic had lied.
Not about the copies.
About being cornered.
Moretti reinforcements flooded into the garage from every entrance.
Dozens of them.
The Consortium agents were suddenly outnumbered.
The silver-haired woman cursed.
Then retreated toward the convoy.
"This isn't over."
Dominic's answer was simple.
"It is."
The woman disappeared into the storm.
The remaining agents withdrew.
Within seconds they were gone.
Leaving only silence behind.
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And one enormous question.
What exactly had Dominic's wife discovered?
