Chapter 5 - the intruder's mark
"Get away from her!" Adelina screamed, leaping out of bed and launching herself at the intruder with raw maternal fury.
The intruder stumbled back, surprised by her sudden defense, but quickly recovered, grabbing Adelina by the wrists and slamming her back against the wooden wardrobe. Adelina struggled wildly, kicking and clawing at his face mask.
Sophia woke up with a terrified cry, clinging to her blanket.
Before the intruder could break free, the heavy connecting door to Enzo's master bedroom was kicked off its hinges with a thunderous roar.
Enzo burst into the room like a unleashed predator. Barefoot, wearing dark trousers and a black t-shirt that showed off his heavily tattooed arms, Enzo grabbed the intruder by the throat, lifting him completely off his feet and slamming him into the far wall.
The intruder gasped for air, reaching for a weapon at his waist, but Enzo grabbed his wrist, twisting it until a loud snap echoed through the room. The intruder dropped a small black velvet bag onto the carpet.
Enzo ripped off the intruder's tactical ski mask.
Adelina gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
The man pinned against the wall was Marco, Enzo’s chief of perimeter security—a man who had worked for the Castellano family for ten years!
"Marco..." Enzo growled, his hand tightening around the traitor's throat until Marco's face turned purple. "You entered my house to harm a woman and a child?"
"I... I wasn't... going to harm them!" Marco choked out, gasping for breath. "I was... just sent to retrieve... the lamb!"
Enzo paused, his dark eyes narrowing in confusion. "The lamb?"
Enzo let go of Marco's throat, letting the traitor drop onto the floor in a heap as two armed guards rushed into the room, pinning Marco's arms behind his back.
Enzo stepped over to the bed, picking up the small black velvet bag Marco had dropped. He reached inside and pulled out a small electronic scanner and a pair of fine silver shears.
Enzo turned toward the nightstand, where little Sophia sat crying softly, clutching her worn stuffed lamb.
Enzo walked over, kneeling beside the bed. "Sophia... sweet girl, may I see your lamb for a second?"
May you like
Sophia sniffled, looking into Enzo's gentle eyes, and handed him the plush toy.
Enzo took the lamb into his broad hands. He felt along the cotton stuffing of the toy's left ear. His thumb pressed against something hard, thin, and metallic hidden deep inside the fabric.
