Chapter 4
"Get your hands off me!" Serena shrieked as Marcus closed the distance, his massive hands wrapping firmly around her arms. The sculpted satin of her evening gown wrinkled as she thrashed against his iron grip. "You can't do this, Gideon! You are starting a war!"
"Did you not start the war the moment you stole from my blood?" Gideon asked, watching her struggle with cold, unblinking detachment.
"I am a Blackwell!" Serena screamed, her diamond earrings swinging wildly. "My family will slaughter you for this!"
"Will they slaughter me before or after they learn of your treason?" Gideon inquired softly. He gave a subtle nod to Marcus. The enforcer dragged the furious, screaming woman out of the dining room. Her shrieks echoed down the long, gilded corridors until the heavy doors at the end of the hall slammed shut, sealing her away.
The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating. Gideon remained by the fireplace for a long moment, the flickering flames casting sharp shadows across his angular face. He slowly turned his broad shoulders, his observant eyes finding Audra.
She was trembling violently. The sophisticated black maid dress seemed to swallow her slender frame. She had just witnessed the destruction of a mafia alliance, all centered around her husband's stolen compensation.
"Are you unharmed, Audra?" Gideon asked, his deep voice softening just a fraction, losing the lethal edge it had carried moments before.
"I... I am fine, sir," Audra whispered, taking a cautious step backward. "Mr. Ashcroft, please. You didn't have to do that. I can just leave. I will pack my things tonight. I don't want to cause a war."
"Where would you go?" Gideon asked, walking slowly toward her.
"Anywhere," Audra answered, a tear finally escaping her eye and tracking down her delicate cheekbone. "I just want to get Mason out of that place. I just want to bury my husband."
Gideon stopped a few feet away from her. He looked down at the silver wedding band resting against her collarbone. The refined tattoos on his hands flexed as he gently reached out, not to touch her, but to pull a pristine linen handkerchief from his suit pocket. He offered it to her.
"Will you allow me to make this right?" Gideon asked quietly.
Audra took the handkerchief, her fingers brushing against his. His skin was warm, a stark contrast to the coldness in his eyes. "How can you make it right? He's gone."
"Can I bring him back to you?" Gideon asked, the question laced with a profound, unspoken guilt. "No. But can I ensure he is laid to rest with the honor of a king?"
Audra covered her mouth with the handkerchief, a muffled sob tearing through her chest. The exhaustion of the past week, the physical labor, the emotional abuse from Serena, and the crushing grief finally broke her. Her knees buckled.
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Before she could hit the floor, Gideon moved. He caught her by the arms, his powerful frame easily supporting her weight. He held her steady, his hands firm but incredibly gentle.
"Shall we go get him right now?" Gideon asked, looking down into her tear-filled eyes.
