Chapter 4 - The man in the hall
Heavy footsteps thundered down the marble corridor outside. The office doors were violently shoved open. Marcus Ellery, Vincent’s trusted senior associate, burst into the room flanked by two massive security men. Marcus was in his early forties, powerfully built, disciplined, and sharply dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie. His fair, rosy complexion drained of color instantly. Following close behind him was Dr. Lena Morales, the estate’s private physician, her professional medical clothing barely visible beneath a dark coat.
Marcus froze. The sight defied logic. The most feared Mafia Boss in the country was barely conscious, slumped in his chair, while a tiny toddler sat peacefully cross-legged beside his polished leather shoes.
Dr. Lena didn't hesitate. She rushed forward with her medical bag, her fair hands moving quickly to assess Vincent’s vitals. There was no graphic injury, no weapon, only a highly sophisticated, fast-acting neurotoxin that had been slipped into his system, masked by the spilled espresso.
As Dr. Lena moved toward Vincent to administer a stabilizing counteragent, Adeline stood up from the rug. She hugged her alligator with one hand, raised her other tiny hand, and suddenly pointed her finger straight toward the open hallway.
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“That man was here before Uncle Vin fell down,” Adeline said quietly.
Marcus slowly turns toward the doorway. His sharp eyes scanned the empty, silent marble corridor. The estate had been on total lockdown for the past hour. No outsiders had breached the gates. If a man was in this hallway, it was someone who already lived inside the walls.
