The Mafia King Made His Son Pick A Billionaire Bride, But The Boy Chose A Broke Teacher Who Fixed His Broken Toy

The world shattered into chaos in the span of a single heartbeat. Lucas didn't scream. He didn't curse. The transformation in him was instantaneous and terrifying—the brooding, conflicted man vanished, replaced by an apex predator whose sole instinct was slaughter.

He drew a custom black semi-automatic pistol from beneath his tuxedo jacket with blinding speed, racking the slide with a sharp, sickening metallic snap.

""Marco, mobilize teams Bravo and Charlie to the perimeter!"" Lucas commanded, his voice cutting through the panic like a blade. ""Call the city dispatch. Tell our contacts to shut down every bridge and tunnel leaving Manhattan. If a single stranger is breathing near my son, eliminate them.""

He grabbed my arm with an iron grip, practically hauling me through the ballroom. Guests scattered in terror as armed Ravalini enforcers formed a flying wedge around us, pushing through the grand lobby and out into the screeching rain that had begun to fall over Fifth Avenue.

Two armored black SUVs were already idling at the curb, tires smoking as they waited. Lucas shoved me into the back seat of the first vehicle and climbed in directly behind me, slamming the door.

""Hold on,"" he ordered, leaning forward to slam the partition window. ""Drive!""

The SUV launched forward, sirens screaming through the wet New York streets, running red lights at seventy miles per hour. My heart was pounding so hard against my ribs that my vision blurred. I clutched the armrest, nausea rising in my throat.

""Matteo..."" I gasped, tears finally spilling over my lashes. ""Lucas, please... who would do this? He's just a baby!""

""Vance,"" Lucas growled, his eyes fixed on the digital dashboard tracker that showed the estate's floor plan flashing red. ""Vincent Vance knew he lost the alliance tonight. He thought he could take Matteo as leverage before my lockdown took full effect. He made a fatal error.""

He turned to look at me, noticing my trembling hands and the pure terror on my face. With an unexpected gentleness, he reached out and covered my shaking fingers with his large, gloved hand.

""I won't let them hurt him, Hannah. And I won't let them hurt you. Breathe.""

Ten minutes later, the SUV roared up the long, winding cobblestone driveway of the Ravalini estate in Westchester. The iron gates were smashed open, two rival black sedans smoking against the tree line with shattered windshields. Gunfire echoed through the misty gardens—sharp, rhythmic pops of tactical rifles.

The SUV screeched to a halt in front of the blazing marble mansion. Lucas kicked open his door before the car even stopped rolling.

""Stay in the car!"" he barked at me.

""No!"" I screamed, lunging after him into the freezing rain. ""I'm going to Matteo!""

Lucas cursed under his breath, but seeing the fierce, unyielding determination in my eyes, he didn't waste time arguing. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me behind his broad frame as we breached the heavy oak double doors of the mansion.

The grand foyer was a war zone. Glass from the crystal chandeliers littered the marble floor like frozen tears. Two men in black tactical gear lay subdued on the stairs, watched over by Ravalini guards.

""Upstairs! Master wing!"" Marco shouted, bleeding from a cut across his forehead as he ran down the sweeping staircase. ""Nanny Maria locked him in the panic room behind the library! But two hostiles reached the second-floor corridor!""

Lucas bounded up the stairs two at a time, moving with an agility that defied his massive frame. I ran directly behind him, kicking off my high heels so I could sprint barefoot across the cold stone.

At the end of the second-floor hallway, near Matteo's bedroom door, a man in a tactical mask was attempting to plant a breaching charge against the reinforced steel door. Hearing our approach, he spun around, raising a submachine gun.

""Down!"" Lucas roared, throwing his entire body over mine as he tackled me to the ground.

Two deafening gunshots roared overhead, blowing plaster off the ceiling. Lucas returned fire from the floor—three rapid, precise shots that dropped the intruder instantly.

Lucas pushed himself up, breathing hard, checking me over with frantic, searching hands. ""Are you hit? Hannah! Look at me! Are you hit?""