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EVERY SERVANT WAS TOO TERRIFIED TO STOP THE MAFIA BOSS'S FIANCÉE FROM TORTURING HIS MAID—UNTIL LUCA WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR, CUT THE ROPES, AND ASKED ONE QUESTION THAT MADE HIS FIANCÉE TREMBLE... / Chapter 6 / 10

Chapter 7 - The Estate Under Siege

The grand foyer of the Moretti mansion had become a war zone. Crystal shards from the shattered seven-foot chandelier lay scattered across the polished Italian marble like diamond snow. Bullet holes pitted the hand-carved mahogany banisters, and the smell of cordite and burning drywall choked the air.

Marco Bellini was pinned behind the overturned oak dining table, his shoulder bleeding through his torn shirt as he traded fire with four Romano gunmen positioned behind the grand pillars of the mezzanine.

Suddenly, a hail of controlled, highly accurate rifle fire erupted from the service entrance. Luca stepped into the crossfire, advancing methodically across the foyer, picking off the attackers with terrifying precision. Two Romano riflemen dropped from the upper balcony, crashing onto the marble floor below.

Marco breathed a ragged sigh of relief. "Boss! Thank God."

"Status," Luca commanded, sweeping the upper perimeter with his rifle while Emma crouched securely behind the reinforced dining table, covering the rear hallway with her pistol.

"We neutralized six outside," Marco reported, reloading his magazine. "Salvatore took Bianca from the east sitting room. They’re making for the private helicopter pad behind the stables. Romano's patriarch, Silvio Romano, is waiting with a second extraction squad!"

"They want to reach the city limits before dawn," Luca said, his eyes narrowing into slits of pure fury. "They know once the other Five Families see my mother’s real will, the Romano syndicate will be declared traitors to the Commission. They have to kill me tonight or face total annihilation."

Emma touched Luca’s arm, her voice urgent. "Mr. Moretti, the east stables are connected to the old carriage tunnel. If you go through the gardens, they will spot you on the open lawn. But the tunnel leads directly underneath the helipad!"

Luca looked at her, impressed by her tactical memory. "The tunnel was boarded up ten years ago."

"I cleaned the utility entrance last spring," Emma replied quickly. "The padlock is rusted, but it can be broken. We can flank them before the helicopter lands."

Luca nodded to Marco. "Take the remaining loyal men and secure the main gates to block Silvio's reinforcements. Emma and I will handle Salvatore."

"Boss, let me go with you," Marco insisted.

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I stepped off a classified military transport and made my way straight to the ICU, where my wife lay with twenty-seven broken b0nes and a fractured skull. Outside her hospital room, her mother and six sisters stood smiling as if they were waiting for lunch to be served. The detective assigned to her case leaned closer and whispered, "Captain, this family practically owns the entire county." I looked through the glass at my wife's bruised, swollen face and replied, "Good. My authority reaches far beyond this county."

I stepped off a classified military transport and made my way straight t...

888Ten days after I gave birth, my mother-in-law poured a pitcher of cold water over me because I was too weak to cook dinner, and my husband stood there smirking. I didn’t scream. I made one phone call, and ten minutes later they were packing their belongings. Then the property manager opened a folder and said, “Ma’am, there’s something you need to know about these two.”

888Ten days after I gave birth, my mother-in-law poured a pitcher of col...

Eighteen years after I divorced Vincent Moretti, I watched our son step onto a Harvard stage to receive one of the highest academic honors for incoming students.

Eighteen years after I divorced Vincent Moretti, I watched our son step...

"No," Luca said coldly. "Salvatore belongs to me."

***

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Chapter 8 - Blood and Loyalty
Chapter 9 - The Truth Laid Bare
Chapter 10 - Justice and Legacy
Chapter 11 - A New Dawn

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