Chapter 3 - BLOOD ON THE MARBLE
I huddled in the absolute darkness of the walk-in closet, the scent of baby powder and expensive fabric softener doing nothing to mask the metallic tang of fear in the air. Leo was latched onto me again, his tiny, desperate swallows the only thing keeping me grounded. I rocked him gently, tears sliding down my cheeks as the nursery door splintered open with a deafening crash.
"Where is she, Rossi?" Damon’s voice slurred with manic energy. "Give me the bitch, and Dante says you get to live five minutes longer!"
Dante. Lorenzo’s cousin. His underboss. The betrayal hit the room so hard I could feel the shockwave even through the closet doors.
"You stepped into the wrong house, rat," Lorenzo’s voice was eerily calm, the terrifying composure of a man who had already accepted death and decided to take everyone with him.
The gunfire was instantaneous and deafening. It tore through the walls, shattering glass and splintering wood. I squeezed my eyes shut, curling entirely over Leo, praying that stray bullets wouldn't find us. I could hear men screaming, the heavy thud of bodies hitting the hardwood floor, and Lorenzo moving with terrifying speed, his weapon barking methodically.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Then, a heavy, agonizing silence fell over the room. I held my breath. Had Lorenzo been killed? Was Damon walking toward the closet right now?
The closet door ripped open, and I stifled a scream. Lorenzo stood there, his pristine white shirt soaked in crimson. His face was splattered with blood, his eyes wild and feral, but he wasn't looking at me with rage. He was looking at his son.
"We have to move," Lorenzo ordered, his breathing heavy. "The whole house is compromised. Dante bought off my perimeter guards. If we stay, we die."
"I... I can't run fast enough holding him," I stammered, my legs shaking as I tried to stand.
May you like
Lorenzo reached out and grabbed my arm, his grip surprisingly gentle despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "You saved my son's life tonight, Maya. I don't leave debts unpaid. You are under my protection now. Keep him close to your heart, and I will carve a path out of hell for you."
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