Chapter 5 - A BREACH IN THE WALLS
Despite Dante's warnings, Sera refused to leave. She told herself it was for the boys, but every time Dante looked at her, she knew it was a lie. She was staying for him. But the Marchesi family wasn't finished. Realizing a direct assault wouldn't work, they paid off one of Dante's inner circle.
The betrayal came from within. Sera was in the kitchen preparing bottles when she noticed Matteo, the loyal second-in-command, quietly disabling the security cameras on the internal monitors. A cold dread pooled in her stomach. She didn't confront him. Instead, she slipped back to the nursery, grabbed the boys, and activated the panic room hidden behind the armoire—a secret Dante had entrusted only to her.
Minutes later, armed men breached the second floor, led by Matteo. Sera watched through the security feed inside the vault as they tore the nursery apart, searching for the heirs. Nico began to fuss, his tiny face turning red. Sera immediately began her rhythmic tapping on his spine, praying the soundproofing would hold. Outside, she saw Dante arrive. He was a force of nature, a terrifying display of precision and rage. He cleared the room in seconds, leaving Matteo bleeding on the floor. When Dante finally opened the panic room door, his hands were shaking so violently he could barely hold his weapon. Sera stepped out and handed him Leo. The family was safe, but the war had just begun.
