Chapter 6 - Betrayal in the Shadows
The drive back from the gala was wrapped in a tense, watchful quiet. The black armored Maybach glided through the rain-slicked streets of New York, followed closely by two escort SUVs filled with Roman’s elite guards.
Inside the vehicle, Norah rested her head on Roman’s broad shoulder, her fingers intertwined with his. It felt surreal that only four days ago she had been terrified of his very voice. Now, his touch was the only anchor keeping her grounded in a world of wolves.
""You took a massive risk tonight,"" Norah murmured softly, looking up at his chiseled profile. ""Moretti looked like a man who wanted blood.""
""Moretti has wanted my blood for a decade,"" Roman replied coldly, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. ""Tonight only gave him a reason to rush his foolishness. But he will not touch you, Norah. Never.""
When they arrived at the estate, something felt deeply wrong. The iron perimeter gates were wide open. The floodlights illuminating the front driveway were completely dark.
""Stop the car,"" Roman ordered instantly, his voice snapping back to the lethal commander. He drew his concealed handgun from inside his tuxedo jacket, flicking off the safety in a single fluid motion.
Marco, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around with an assault rifle already gripped in his hands. ""Security cameras are offline, boss. Communications are jammed.""
""Ambush,"" Roman hissed. He turned to Norah, his eyes fierce with urgent command. ""Norah, listen to me. Stay inside this car. The glass and chassis are armor-plated. Under no circumstances do you open these doors unless it is me coming to get you. Do you understand me?""
""Roman, please, don't leave me!"" she begged, tears of panic springing to her eyes as she clung to his jacket.
""I will come back for you,"" he vowed, cupping her face and pressing a fierce, bruising kiss to her lips. ""I always come back for what is mine.""
Roman kicked open the door and stepped out into the pouring rain alongside Marco. Almost immediately, the dark grounds erupted into chaos. Gunfire rattled through the night air like thunder. Automatic rifles flared in the shadows of the hedges, bullets ricocheting harmlessly off the reinforced glass of the Maybach.
Norah covered her ears, crouching low on the leather floorboards of the car. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs. Through the tinted window, she caught horrifying glimpses of Roman moving through the rain like a wraith of death. He fired with surgical precision, dropping enemy gunmen one after another without flinching.
Suddenly, the heavy door on the opposite side of the Maybach unlocked with a loud electronic click.
Norah gasped, looking up. The door swung open, and standing in the pouring rain was not Roman, but Salvatore—the senior capo Roman had threatened days earlier.
""Salvatore!"" Norah cried, a momentary wave of relief washing over her. ""Help him! Roman is—""
Salvatore sneered, thrusting a handgun directly into her face. ""Shut up, little girl.""
Norah froze, the cold rain spraying onto her bare shoulders.
""Roman’s reign ends tonight,"" Salvatore growled, grabbing Norah by the hair and ripping her out of the vehicle onto the muddy gravel. Norah screamed in pain, struggling against his brutal grip. ""Moretti offered me fifty million and full control of the ports to hand you over and put a bullet in the king’s back. You’re coming with me.""
""Roman!"" Norah screamed into the rainy night with all the strength left in her lungs. ""ROMAN!""
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Across the courtyard, Roman turned. Through the smoke and muzzle flashes, his eyes caught Salvatore dragging Norah toward a black van idling by the side gate. A roar of pure, unadulterated fury tore from Roman’s throat—a sound so terrifying, so primal, that it froze every man on the battlefield.
Roman broke into a sprint toward them, firing wildly, but two Moretti mercenaries tackled him into the mud, pinning him down as the black van sped away into the stormy darkness with Norah inside.
