Chapter 5 - The Snake at the Gate
Elena’s world shattered into a thousand jagged pieces in less than a second.
The color drained from her face so fast she had to grab the edge of the velvet armchair to keep from collapsing. Her breath hitched in a ragged, terrifying gasp.
“No,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “No, no, no...”
Alessandro was at her side in an instant. He grabbed her shoulder, anchoring her. “Elena. Look at me.”
“He found us,” she whimpered, tears spilling over her lashes, streaming down her pale cheeks. “Oh God, Alessandro, he found us! He’s going to take her!”
“Who is he?” Alessandro’s voice was low, lethal, and colder than a winter storm. “Give me a name.”
Elena shook her head frantically, pulling her hands up to cover her face. “Marcus Vance. My... my ex-fiancé. He isn't Mia’s father—Mia’s father died before she was born. Marcus... Marcus turned out to be a monster. He tried to sell Mia to settle his gambling debts with a local crew in South Chicago. That’s why I ran. That’s why we slept in cars and cheap motels!”
She grabbed Alessandro’s crisp white shirt sleeves, her knuckles turning white with desperate strength.
“He doesn't want Mia because he loves her! He wants her as leverage! He knows if he gets her, he can force me to do whatever he wants, or he’ll sell her to the highest bidder!”
In the corner of the room, Mia looked up from Mabel’s new mahogany bed, her little face suddenly troubled by her mother’s tears. “Mommy?”
Alessandro didn't hesitate. He looked at Richard. “Get the child out of the room. Take her to Sophia’s nursery. Double the inner guard.”
Richard nodded instantly, stepping over to Mia. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go show baby Sophia Mabel’s new bed.”
Mia brightened up, grabbing the little wooden box and scampering after Richard without a care in the world.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Alessandro turned his full, terrifying focus back to Elena. He lifted his hand and gently wiped the tears from her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
“Listen to me very carefully, Elena,” Alessandro said, his tone carrying the absolute weight of a king issuing a decree. “Marcus Vance stepped onto my land. He threatened a child who sleeps under my roof. He threatened the mother of the girl who saved my daughter.”
He leaned down, his eyes glowing with a dark, predatory fire.
“He is already a dead man. He just doesn't know it yet.”
“Alessandro, please!” Elena cried, her body trembling. “You don't understand how ruthless he is! He brought men with him when I ran—he has contacts in the city! If he knows I’m here, he’ll use the press, he’ll call the police, he’ll frame me—”
“Elena,” Alessandro interrupted softly, a dark, cold smile touching his lips. “I control the police in this district. I own the press in this state. And as for his contacts...”
Alessandro walked over to his desk, picked up his private phone, and dialed a three-digit extension.
“Bring the rat from the front gate to the wine cellar,” Alessandro ordered calmly. “And make sure he’s still breathing when I get down there.”
He hung up, turning back to Elena. He reached out and caught her trembling chin in his fingers, forcing her to meet his dark, unwavering gaze.
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“Stay in this room,” Alessandro commanded gently. “Lock the door. In one hour, your nightmare will be over forever.”
Before Elena could utter another word, Alessandro turned and swept out of the room, leaving behind a trail of cold rage that vibrated through the floorboards.
