Chapter 5 - The Snake's Den
I let Marco through the subterranean airlock, but the moment he stepped into the main hangar, I had the barrel of my weapon pressed against the back of his neck.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't put a bullet through your spine right now, Marco," I whispered coldly into his ear.
Marco didn't flinch. He slowly lowered his hands, holding out the silver encrypted flash drive.
"Because that drive contains the financial ledger signed by Mateo three weeks ago," Marco said calmly. "He transferred twenty million dollars to Dr. Halloran's offshore account in the Cayman Islands. He didn't just want your empire, Lorenzo. He wanted you broken so completely by your son's death that you would welcome a bullet to the head."
I slowly pulled the gun back, grabbing the drive from his hand. "How did you find this place?"
"Sophia showed me the blueprints three years ago," Marco revealed, wiping rain from his face. "She asked me to keep it a secret from everyone, including Mateo, in case the family ever turned on you. She was smarter than all of us, Lorenzo."
Hearing Sophia's name sent a pang through my heart, but my mind remained focused on survival. "What is happening topside?"
"Mateo has called a meeting of the Five Families for tomorrow night at the Grand Regency Hotel in Manhattan," Marco reported. "He intends to officially declare himself the Don of the Rossi empire. He thinks you and Leo are ashes in the Long Island estate."
"Let him celebrate," I said, a dark, dangerous plan forming in my mind. "Let him stand before the entire council and claim my seat. It will make his fall all the more absolute."
"Who is the girl?" Marco asked suddenly, looking past my shoulder toward the hallway leading to the living quarters. "My men swept the ruins of the mansion. We found Clara's body—drugged, dead from smoke inhalation. But the maid... Hunter Higgins. Her body was never found."
"She is under my personal protection," I warned, my tone leaving no room for argument. "She saved my son's life when my own wealth and power failed him. Touch her, or even look at her with suspicion, and I will tear your tongue out."
Marco raised his hands in surrender, a look of profound respect entering his eyes. "Understood, boss. What are your orders?"
"We strike tomorrow night," I said, plugging the flash drive into the main terminal. "I am going to attend my uncle's coronation."
I walked back to the private quarters. Hunter was standing near the door, holding a heavy iron lamp like a club, ready to fight off anyone who walked through. When she saw me, her posture collapsed in relief, and she dropped the lamp onto the soft rug.
"It was an ally," I reassured her, stepping closer. "Everything is under control."
"You're going back out there, aren't you?" she asked, her blue eyes searching my face. "To fight them."
"I have to end this, Hunter," I said gently. "If Mateo lives, he will never stop searching for us. You and Leo will never be safe. I have to cut the snake's head off."
Hunter stepped forward, reaching out to lay a hand on my forearm. Her touch was warm, sending a jolt through my nervous system.
"Come back to us, Lorenzo," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Leo needs his father. And... I can't lose anyone else."
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I looked at her, seeing not just a maid or a wet nurse, but a brave, radiant woman who had walked into my dark, violent world and brought light back into it.
"I will come back," I promised, pressing my hand over hers. "I give you my word."
