Chapter 5 - The Wolf Uncaged
Everett stumbled backward with a roar of fury, dropping his handgun onto the plush rug.
Before he could reach for it, the hidden wall panel slammed open with a thunderous crack.
Roman lunged into the bedroom like an enraged beast, his fist catching Everett directly across the jaw.
The impact sent Everett flying across the room, crashing heavily against the marble hearth.
"Touch my wife again," Roman roared, grabbing Everett by the collar and lifting him off his feet.
Everett spat blood, his eyes wide with sudden, frantic realization as he saw Roman unharmed.
"Roman, wait! It wasn't just me!" Everett gasped, struggling against Roman’s choking grip. "The board backed me!"
"The board doesn't own this family," Roman snarled, slamming Everett back against the stone fireplace. "I do."
Corinne leaned heavily against the safe, clutching her fractured side as she watched her husband.
For the first time in their marriage, she didn't see a ruthless mobster or an overbearing protector.
She saw a man who had trusted her plan, who had waited behind the wall until she gave the signal.
"Matteo, secure him," Roman commanded, tossing his cousin to the floor like a bag of garbage.
Matteo moved in swiftly, zip-tying Everett’s wrists behind his back and kicking the discarded weapon aside.
"The strike team downstairs?" Roman asked, his breathing heavy as he adjusted his torn cuff.
"Contained in the foyer," Matteo replied, checking his tactical tablet. "The blast doors cut off their retreat."
Roman turned away from the violence and walked straight toward Corinne, his hardened expression melting into raw concern.
He caught her waist gently, lifting her back onto the edge of the bed so she didn't have to support her weight.
"You're bleeding through the bandage," Roman said softly, his thumb gently wiping a tear from her cheek.
"I told you I could do this," she whispered, leaning her forehead against his broad chest.
"You shouldn't have had to," he replied, burying his face in her dark hair. "I should have listened to you two weeks ago."
Everett laughed bitterly from the floor, his face bruised and swollen from the beating.
"You think this is over, Roman?" Everett mocked, coughing hoarsely. "The state attorney already has the forged audits."
Corinne looked up from Roman’s chest, a faint, cold smile touching her lips.
"No, Everett, they don't," Corinne said clearly across the quiet room.
May you like
Everett’s sneer froze as he looked at her bruised, pale face.
"What did you do?" he whispered, his voice cracking with rising dread.
