Page 88 of The Mafia King's Lost Son
She nods, fear clear in her eyes. “What are you going to do about Viktor?”
“Handle it. But carefully. If he suspects we know, he might move up his timeline.”
“Dante, if he’s working with the Marchettis, he knows the estate layout. The security systems. Every weakness.”
“I know. Which is why I’m changing protocols tonight. New guard rotations. New access codes. Everything he might use against us.”
We talk for a few more minutes, going over safety procedures and backup plans. Then I hold her for a moment, breathing in her scent, letting myself draw strength from her presence.
“It’s going to be okay,” I say, even though I’m not sure I believe it.
“Promise me you’ll keep Luca safe. Whatever else happens, promise me that.”
“I promise. Nothing touches our son. Not Viktor. Not the Marchettis. Not anyone.”
I leave her there and spend the next several hours implementing new security measures. Marco helps, moving quietly as we lock down the estate.
By midnight, I’m confident we’ve done everything we can. The residential wing is a fortress. Luca’s room has four guards I’d trust with my life. Rosa is armed and has instructions to shoot first and ask questions later if anyone tries to breach the door. We’re as prepared as we can be.
I’m in my office going over transportation plans when exhaustion finally hits. I haven’t slept properly in days and my body is demanding rest whether I want to give it or not.
I head upstairs to my room where Scarlett is already asleep. I strip down to my boxers and climb into bed beside her, pulling her against my chest.
She mumbles something and curls into me without waking. I close my eyes and try to quiet my mind enough to sleep.
That’s when the alarms start screaming.
I’m out of bed and grabbing my gun before I’m fully conscious. Scarlett sits up, disoriented and terrified.
“What’s happening?”
“Stay here. Lock the door behind me.”
“Dante—”
But I’m already moving, rushing into the hallway where chaos has erupted.
Marco comes running from the other direction. “Breach in the residential wing. Multiple hostiles. They knew exactly how to bypass the new protocols.”
Viktor.
I sprint toward Luca’s room with Marco right behind me. We round the corner and I see four bodies on the floor. My guards. All dead.
Rosa is crumpled by Luca’s door, blood pooling under her head.
And the door is open.
No.
I rush inside and find exactly what I knew I’d find.
Luca’s bed is empty. The window is broken. And my son is gone.
The roar that comes out of me is inhuman. I put my fist through the wall hard enough to break bones and don’t feel the pain.
Marco grabs my shoulder. “Boss, we need to?—”
Scarlett’s scream cuts through everything else. I turn to find her in the doorway, staring at the empty bed with an expression of pure horror.
