Chapter 5 - The Gathering StormThe sun rose over Lake Forest the next morning, casting a pale, cold light across a house that felt entirely different.
The wreckage in Enzo’s study had been cleared away by quiet, efficient men who asked no questions. But the air between Enzo and me had shifted permanently. There were no more closed doors, no more polite nods across a twelve-person dining table. When Enzo left for downtown Chicago at dawn, he hadn't just kissed my cheek—he had pulled me against him in the foyer, his kiss lingering with a fierce, possessive promise that he would return.
Yet, peace in our world was always just the quiet before the slaughter.
By noon, the digital fortress protecting the estate began to blink red.
I was sitting in the sunroom when Victor, Enzo’s most trusted caporegime, stepped inside. His face was grim, a fresh bandage stark against his jawline.
"Mrs. DeLuca," Victor said respectfully, though his eyes darted toward the windows overlooking the drive. "Mr. DeLuca sent me. He wants you packed and ready within the hour."
My heart skipped a beat. "Packed? Why? What happened?"
"Dante Russo didn't just walk through our front door last night to play games," Victor explained grimly. "While we were dealing with the distraction in the library, his men breached our downtown financial servers. They didn't steal money—they planted a digital signature. Dante has declared open war. And he's coming for the estate tonight."
"Enzo?" I asked, my voice tightening. "Where is he?"
"He's handling the North Side docks," Victor said, his hand resting instinctively on his holster. "Dante’s father, Salvatore, is trying to stay neutral, but Dante has staged a coup. He’s taking over the family. And his first demand to the commission isn't territory or drug routes."
He paused, looking directly into my eyes.
"He demanded you as a peace offering. Or he burns this house to the ground."
A cold shudder ran down my spine. I didn't hesitate. I stood up, smoothing the front of my dress. "I'm not packing a bag, Victor. If Dante thinks he can walk into this house and take me, he's gravely mistaken."
Victor’s mouth twitched into a rare, grim smile. "Mr. DeLuca said you would say that. Come on. We're moving you to the reinforced safe room in the east wing. Mr. DeLuca is finishing up downtown. He's coming home early."
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But as the afternoon bled into evening, the sky over Lake Forest turned the bruised, purple-black color of a violent storm.
And long before Enzo’s convoy could make it back from the city, the heavy iron gates of the estate were blown off their hinges.
