Chapter 6 - THE RETALIATION
Three days passed.
Under Dr. Hayes' constant medical care, heavy IV antibiotics, and proper nutrition, Elena's fever finally broke. The color returned to her cheeks, and for the first time in years, the hollow, desperate look in her eyes began to fade.
Nora, meanwhile, had become my constant shadow.
Wherever I went on the estate, the little girl followed three paces behind, her tiny hand tucked into mine. She accompanied me to morning coffee, sat quietly on a cushion in my study while I reviewed corporate reports, and walked with me through the Italian gardens.
The hardened mafia reputation that had made men tremble across Pennsylvania was slowly being dismantled by a three-year-old girl who insisted on giving me half of her morning blueberry muffin.
On Friday morning, I was sitting in the conservatory with Elena, who was resting on a chaise lounge wrapped in a cashmere blanket.
"Mr. Vance," Elena said quietly, looking down at her tea cup. "I don't know how I will ever repay you for what you've done. The doctor... the food... taking care of Nora..."
"You don't owe me anything, Elena," I said, taking a sip of espresso. "In fact, my legal team has successfully recovered three million dollars from Harland’s seized properties and hidden accounts. The court has officially transferred the funds back into a trust account under your name."
Elena gasped, her hands shaking so hard the teacup rattled against the saucer. "Three... three million dollars?"
"It was your husband's insurance settlement, plus interest and punitive damages," I explained smoothly. "You and Nora are financially secure for the rest of your lives. You never have to scrub another floor or worry about rent again."
Tears filled her eyes, but before she could speak, the glass windows of the conservatory suddenly shattered!
CRASH!
A heavy brick wrapped in black tape flew through the window, landing violently on the marble floor between us!
Nora screamed from the adjacent playroom!
I lunged forward instantly, covering Elena with my body as glass rained down around us.
Viktor and three security officers rushed into the room with weapons drawn, securing the perimeter within seconds.
"Luca!" Viktor shouted, standing over us with his gun aimed out toward the gardens. "A black SUV just sped away from the south gate!"
I stood up, stepping over the broken glass, and picked up the brick. Taped to the side was a folded sheet of paper with a handwritten note in thick red marker:
DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST HARLAND BY TONIGHT, LUCA, OR THE GIRL AND HER MOTHER DON'T MAKE IT TO NEXT WEEK. WE KNOW WHERE THEY SLEEP.
It was Harland's criminal associates—the loan sharks and local mobsters he had been laundering money with. They knew Harland’s trial would drag their entire operation into the light, and they were willing to wage war on my estate to silence us.
I stared at the note, my jaw clenched so tight my teeth threatened to crack.
They thought they could intimidate me. They thought they could target a mother and child under my protection.
They had forgotten why the entire city called me the devil.
"Viktor," I said, my voice dropping to a terrifying, deadly calm.
"Yes, boss?"
"Lock down the estate. Bring my heavy armor from the vault."
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I turned to look at Nora, who was cowering behind her mother, weeping in terror.
"Tonight, we end this permanently."
