Chapter 6 - The Final GambitFor three weeks, life inside the Salvatore estate was a dream of healing and quiet peace.
Under Victor's protection, the bruises on my body faded completely. He converted a sunlit room on the third floor into a private art studio for me, stocking it with high-end canvases, paints, and brushes. For the first time in years, I picked up a paintbrush again, pouring all my pain, fear, and newfound freedom onto the canvas.
During the evenings, Victor and I would sit by the fireplace in his study. We talked for hours about art, history, literature, and our dreams. The cold, ruthless mafia kingpin the world feared vanished when we were alone, replaced by a brilliant, fiercely protective, and deeply gentle man who hung on my every word.
I was falling deeply, irrevocably in love with him. And every look in his gray eyes told me he felt the exact same way.
However, peace in Chicago never lasted long.
On a rainy Tuesday evening, Marco entered the study, holding a secure encrypted tablet. His face was grim.
"Boss," Marco said quietly. "Derek Hail’s father just pulled a desperate move. He partnered with the Moretti syndicate from New York. They’ve placed a black-market contract on Miss Marlo's life to provoke a war and clear their debts."
My glass of wine shattered against the hardwood floor. "What?"
Victor stood up slowly from his desk. The warm, gentle man disappeared in an instant, replaced by the terrifying, lethal kingpin who ruled Chicago's underworld. His gray eyes turned into absolute ice.
"How long until the hit squad arrives in the city?" Victor asked, his voice deathly calm.
"They're already here," Marco replied. "Two shooters are moving toward Miss Marlo’s father's publishing house right now. They intend to take her father hostage to draw her out."
"No!" I screamed, grabbing Victor's arm in sheer terror. "My father! Please, Victor, save him!"
Victor gripped my shoulders, looking down into my panicked eyes with unwavering strength.
"Listen to me, Lena," Victor commanded softly. "Your father is already safe. I placed two discreet security teams outside his house three weeks ago. They’ve already intercepted the shooters."
I let out a ragged breath, collapsing against his chest. "Thank God..."
"Now," Victor murmured into my hair, his hands stroking my back with lethal intent. "It's time to end the Hail family once and for all."
Victor turned to Marco. "Execute Order Seven. Terminate every line of credit belonging to Hail Real Estate, release the offshore fraud files to the Federal Bureau, and bring Derek Hail to the warehouse on 14th Street."
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"Yes, Boss," Marco bowed and exited immediately.
Victor looked down at me, holding my face gently between his hands. "Come with me, Lena. It’s time you watch your nightmare end."
