Chapter 5 - THE ART OF WAR
By dawn, the news was everywhere. A gas leak was the official story for the explosion at The Obsidian, but the underworld knew the truth. Lorenzo Moretti was presumed dead, and the Vane family was already moving in on his southside ports. Evelyn sat wrapped in a blanket on the velvet sofa, watching Lorenzo orchestrate a war from a burner phone.
He moved with lethal grace, barking orders in rapid-fire Italian. His loyal capos were rallying. The trap had failed, and now, Chicago was going to burn. When he finally put the phone down, he walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the rising sun.
"Celeste thought I was weak because I offered her a ring instead of a bullet," Lorenzo said quietly. "Her father runs the Irish docks. They want my shipping lanes. They used her to get close, to drop my guard."
"What happens now?" Evelyn asked.
He turned to her, the predatory glint back in his eyes. "Now, we take it all back. But first, I need to ensure you're protected. They will check the restaurant's security footage. They will see you slip me that napkin."
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"I have nowhere to go. No family. Nothing."
Lorenzo closed the distance between them, kneeling so he was eye-level with her. His large, warm hand gently cupped her jaw. The touch sent a jolt of electricity straight to her core. "You are under my protection now, Evelyn. You saved my life. In my world, a life debt is sacred. From this moment on, you are a Moretti asset. No one touches you."
