Chapter 8
"Yes, Mr. West," Nora whispered, her voice shaking with adrenaline. She gently took the six-year-old girl’s hand, offering her a small, watery smile. "Come along, Maisie. Let's go find a quiet place."
Maisie looked up at the towering mafia boss, then at Vivienne, before clinging tightly to Nora's white apron. As the maid and the child hurried out of the salon, their footsteps echoing softly against the marble, Adrian turned his full, terrifying attention back to the woman in the burgundy gown.
"Now," Adrian said, taking a slow, predatory step toward her. "You are going to tell me exactly how many of my own men were on your payroll to facilitate the kidnapping."
"I won't tell you anything!" Vivienne shrieked, pressing herself flat against the gilded mirror. "If I give you names, you will kill me! My silence is the only leverage I have left!"
"Do you believe leverage exists for a woman who has just admitted to orchestrating the abduction of a syndicate boss?" Adrian countered, stepping closer, his imposing frame blocking her escape.
"My father will not stand for this!" Vivienne cried, her diamond earrings swinging wildly. "He is a powerful man, Adrian! He will bring the entire Shaw syndicate down on your head! You are in his house!"
"Do you expect me to fear a corrupt politician more than I despise a monster standing in front of me?" Adrian asked, his dark eyes narrowing into cold, unforgiving slits.
He didn't wait for her to answer. He turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over his four heavily armed guards stationed near the salon doors.
"Are you men going to secure this traitor, or must I break her legs myself?" Adrian asked, his command absolute.
Two massive enforcers stepped forward instantly, moving with terrifying, synchronized efficiency. They grabbed Vivienne roughly by the arms, entirely ignoring the expensive fabric of her luxurious satin gown.
"Get your hands off me!" Vivienne screamed as they dragged her backward across the marble. "I am Vivienne Shaw! I am the lady of this house! Guards! Guards!"
She screamed for her father's security detail, but the doors remained shut. Adrian's men had already quietly neutralized the interior guards during the reception.
"Take her to her own basement," Adrian commanded, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "Lock her in the exact same room where she kept me. Ensure the temperature is dropped, and that she is stripped of all jewelry and communication devices."
"You are a dead man, Adrian!" Vivienne wailed as they hauled her through the heavy doors. "You hear me? You are a dead man!"
"We will see," Adrian murmured to the empty room.
May you like
The heavy service doors slammed shut, instantly cutting off Vivienne’s frantic, echoing screams. The salon was plunged back into a profound, ringing silence. The towering Christmas tree continued to sparkle with golden lights, a surreal, festive backdrop to the brutal mafia justice that had just been executed.
Adrian stood perfectly still for a long moment, the adrenaline of the confrontation slowly ebbing from his system, leaving behind a profound, aching exhaustion. He had confronted his tormentor and protected the woman who had kept him alive, but the political fallout with the Shaw family would inevitably ignite a massive war tonight. He needed to secure the maid and the child before he burned the mansion to the ground.
