Chapter 8
The door swung open before Adrian could grant permission. Marcus, the captain of Adrian’s security detail, stepped into the room. He was a mountain of a man in a tailored dark-navy suit, his face grim and tight with barely restrained panic.
"Boss," Marcus said, his eyes darting briefly to Claire and the child before locking onto Adrian. "We have a critical situation."
Adrian stood up slowly, the cold, intimidating mafia boss instantly returning to the surface. He adjusted his charcoal-gray waistcoat, his movie-star handsome face hardening into an unreadable mask. "Report."
"I just intercepted a communication on the encrypted radio channels," Marcus explained, stepping fully into the study and closing the door behind him. "The Donatelli family is moving. They pulled their men from the docks and the south warehouses. They are arming up."
Adrian’s piercing blue eyes narrowed. "Why the sudden mobilization?"
Marcus hesitated, looking uncomfortably at the young mother in the housekeeping dress. "The chatter indicates they received a tip from an inside source, Boss. Someone in this house made a phone call ten minutes ago. They told Victor Donatelli that James Cole left a daughter, and she is currently sitting inside this estate."
Claire let out a horrified gasp, her hands flying to her mouth. Her worst nightmare was unfolding in real-time. The fortress she had hidden in was compromised.
Adrian’s face drained of color, his mind racing with terrifying speed. "Ten minutes ago. Right after the incident in the foyer."
"Yes, sir," Marcus confirmed. "One of the guards or the floor staff saw the watch. They sold the information."
"Find the rat," Adrian commanded, his voice a low, vibrating growl of pure, unrestrained violence. "Lock down the communications. No one makes a call, no one leaves the grounds. If you have to break every finger of every man in that foyer to get a name, you do it."
"Understood," Marcus nodded sharply. "What about the Donatelli crew? If they are mobilizing, they might be planning a siege on the estate tonight. We need to fortify the perimeter."
"Double the men at the front gate. Arm the roof snipers," Adrian ordered, moving toward a hidden panel behind his bookshelf. "No vehicle gets within a mile of these gates without taking fire."
Claire stood frozen, her beautiful face pale and slick with tears. She reached down and grabbed Nora, pulling the little girl into her arms. Nora, sensing her mother's sudden terror, buried her face into the cream collar of Claire's dress.
"You promised we would be safe!" Claire cried out, her voice breaking. "You said this was the only place that could protect her!"
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Adrian turned around. The bookshelf swung open, revealing a hidden steel vault. He punched in a code, the heavy door clicking open to display an arsenal of high-grade weaponry.
"And it is," Adrian promised, loading a heavy black pistol with terrifying, practiced speed. "I am going to bathe this estate in blood before I let them touch a single hair on her head."
