Chapter 9 - The Trial of Blood
Falcone’s chief enforcer panicked at the sight of the massive beast. He swung his weapon away from Sophia, aiming it toward the lunging dog.
"Shoot it!" Falcone screamed.
Before the enforcer could pull the trigger, Titan leaped across the marble balcony with terrifying force.
The two-hundred-pound dog slammed directly into the enforcer, his heavy jaws clamping onto the man's arm. The enforcer screamed in agony, dropping his weapon as he tumbled backward over the velvet lounge chairs.
Sophia slipped free from his grip, tumbling onto the soft carpet.
"Sophia! Run!" Elena shrieked, twisting violently out of Falcone's grip and slamming her elbow into the old crime lord's ribs.
Falcone stumbled back, gasping for air, and raised his pistol toward Elena in wild, desperate rage.
THWIP!
A single, precise suppressed shot echoed through the foyer.
Adrian’s round struck Falcone’s wrist with surgical accuracy, knocking the gun from his hand and sending it spinning over the balcony rail onto the marble floor below.
Adrian was up the grand marble staircase in two seconds.
He grabbed Falcone by the throat with his broad, calloused hand, dragging the old crime lord over the balcony rail and pinning him against the heavy stone balustrade. Falcone choked, his legs dangling thirty feet above the foyer floor, staring into Adrian’s dark, merciless eyes.
"You took my brother from me six years ago, Falcone," Adrian whispered, his voice cold as the grave. "And today you dared to touch his daughter."
"Adrian... please..." Falcone choked out, his face turning purple as he clawed at Adrian's iron grip. "I'll give you... everything... the northern routes... the accounts..."
"I don't want your money, Falcone," Adrian stated flatly. "I want peace for my family."
With a single, effortless motion, Adrian shoved Falcone over the balustrade. The old crime lord let out a final, terrified shriek as he fell thirty feet down, crashing onto the hard marble foyer floor below, dead on impact.
The remaining Falcone mercenaries surrendered instantly, dropping their weapons as Moretti soldiers swarmed the upper level, securing the entire mansion within seconds.
Silence descended over the estate once again.
Adrian turned around slowly. Elena was sitting on the carpet, weeping tears of pure relief, holding Sophia tightly in her arms. Titan stood beside them, panting softly, licking the little girl's cheek.
May you like
Sophia looked up from her mother's shoulder, her fair rosy face shining in the warm ambient light of the corridor. She reached out her small hand toward Adrian.
Adrian walked over, dropping to his knees, and pulled both Elena and Sophia into his broad, protective embrace.
