CHAPTER 4 – THE DEVIL WALKS INTO HELL
CHAPTER 4 – THE DEVIL WALKS INTO HELL
The first kidnapper hit the floor before he understood what had happened.
A single shot.
Between the eyes.
The second man spun toward the elevator entrance.
Too slow.
Another bullet shattered his shoulder before a second entered his chest.
The third grabbed Emma's unconscious body and dragged her backward.
"STOP!"
His pistol pressed against her temple.
Dante Marchetti stepped from the smoke.
Black suit.
Black gloves.
Black eyes colder than death itself.
Behind him...
Luca and six armed men secured the hallway.
No one moved.
The kidnapper laughed nervously.
"I'll kill her."
Dante's expression never changed.
"No."
"You think I'm bluffing?"
"I know you are."
The man's finger tightened on the trigger.
Dante calmly spoke.
"Because if you were sent by Sergei..."
another step...
"...he ordered you to keep her alive."
Another step.
"...which means you're already dead if you fail."
The kidnapper hesitated.
Exactly one second.
That was enough.
A suppressed shot echoed.
The bullet came from somewhere behind the criminal.
His forehead exploded forward.
He collapsed instantly.
Emma fell into Dante's arms.
Luca lowered the sniper rifle.
"Clear."
Dante looked down.
Emma wasn't moving.
His heartbeat stopped.
"Doctor!"
Within seconds, one of his medical team rushed forward.
After several endless moments...
"She's breathing."
Dante finally exhaled.
"Sedative."
The doctor examined the injection mark.
"Heavy dose."
"Will she wake up?"
"In a few hours."
Back at the penthouse...
Emma slowly opened her eyes.
Everything hurt.
The first face she saw...
was Dante.
He was sitting beside the bed.
Still wearing the same suit.
Still awake.
"You've been here?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
He checked his watch.
"Six hours."
"You didn't sleep."
"No."
She frowned.
"Why?"
He answered so quietly she almost missed it.
"Because I failed."
Emma stared at him.
"You saved me."
"I allowed them to get close enough to touch you."
"You can't control everything."
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"I've spent my entire life trying."
Silence settled between them.
For the first time...
Emma saw something beneath the ruthless mafia boss.
Not power.
Not violence.
Fear.
Real fear.
The peace lasted less than five minutes.
Luca burst through the bedroom door.
"Boss."
Dante stood immediately.
"What happened?"
Luca looked at Emma before answering.
"They left something."
He handed Dante a sealed envelope recovered from the elevator.
Inside...
One photograph.
Emma sleeping in her new bedroom.
Taken only hours earlier.
On the back...
Five handwritten words.
WE ARE ALREADY INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
The room fell silent.
Every bodyguard instinctively reached for a weapon.
Even Vivian looked shaken.
Someone inside Dante's own organization...
had betrayed him.
And whoever that traitor was...
May you like
had just declared war from within.
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