Chapter 5 - The Message at the Gates
Roman rose from the edge of the bed so fast the wooden floorboards groaned beneath his boots.
“What kind of message?” Roman asked, his voice dropping into a low, lethal hum that made Marcus flinch.
Marcus stepped further into the bedroom, holding out the perforated envelope with a pair of silver tongs.
“It wasn’t left by a courier, Boss,” Marcus explained, his eyes darting nervously toward Harper.
“One of our perimeter guards found it pinned to the front security gate with a custom hunting knife.”
“The blade is engraved with Rossi’s personal crest.”
Roman snatched the envelope from the tongs and ripped it open with his bare hands.
A single sheet of heavy cardstock fell out onto the duvet cover between them.
Scrawled across the paper in thick, red ink were the words: A wedding gift for the groom—next time, aim for the heart.
Attached to the bottom of the note was a small, high-resolution photograph taken from the security cameras outside the warehouse.
It clearly showed Harper climbing out of the warehouse window with blood staining her tactical jacket.
Harper stared at the photograph, her breath hitching in her throat as the realization set in.
“He knew it was me all along,” she whispered, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket.
“He let me walk out of that warehouse on purpose.”
Roman’s face turned the color of ash, his eyes darkening into a terrifying abyss of pure rage.
“He didn’t just let you walk out,” Roman said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
“He tracked you all the way to our wedding to send me a direct challenge.”
“He thinks he has us cornered because my new bride is injured and bleeding in my bed.”
Roman turned away from the bed and walked slowly toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate's sprawling front gardens.
“Marcus,” Roman called out without turning around.
“Boss?” Marcus answered immediately.
“Call an emergency meeting of the regional commission for tonight at midnight.”
“Inform every caporegime and district captain that attendance is mandatory.”
“Tell them we will be reviewing a special financial audit regarding Victor Rossi’s missing millions.”
“And Marcus?” Roman added, turning back with his cold, calculating stare locked firmly on his chief enforcer.
“Double the guards around the perimeter, and check every single camera feed in the east wing.”
“Rossi couldn't have known about the exact timing of our wedding unless someone inside our inner circle gave him the schedule.”
Marcus swallowed hard, realizing the terrifying implication of his boss's words.
“You think we have a rat?” Marcus asked cautiously.
“I don't think, Marcus,” Roman replied, sliding his pistol smoothly back into his shoulder holster.
“I know.”
May you like
He walked back over to the side of the bed and looked down at Harper, whose eyes were heavy with fatigue.
“Rest,” Roman instructed gently, placing his hand over hers for a brief second.
