“You have destroyed our leverage with the board,” Caterina said, her tone icy. “They are voting on the merger tomorrow.”

“Then the merger will fail,” Dominic said.

He ended the call with a single tap.

The social worker looked at her ringing phone, then back at Dominic.

Her face had turned a pale, dusty gray.

“Mr. Valenti,” she said, her voice shaking. “This is highly irregular.”

“My security chief is waiting outside,” Dominic said, his voice entirely devoid of warmth. “He has the official paperwork signed by the clerk.”

He pointed toward the glass doors of Rossi Books.

“I suggest you take your associate and leave before the local police arrive to enforce the stay,” he added.

The social worker hesitated, looking at her assistant.

She grabbed her leather briefcase from the counter, her fingers slipping on the brass buckle.

Without another word, the two women walked out into the rain.

The bell above the door chimed once, a dull, metallic sound that seemed to linger in the damp air.

I stayed on the floor, my knees pressed against the cold linoleum.