Chapter 6
"Clean this up," Alaric commanded quietly to the guards. "Sanitize the room. Lock down the estate perimeter."
"Yes, Boss," the lead bodyguard replied, gesturing for the men to begin the grim work of erasing the violence.
Alaric gently helped Serena to her feet, offering his arm for support. They walked slowly out of the dining room, navigating the long, brightly lit marble corridors of the estate. The cinematic sunlight casting long shadows across the floor seemed to reflect the heavy burden of power he carried.
He bypassed his private study and took the private elevator directly to the secure family quarters in the west wing.
The heavy steel doors slid open. The suite was a sanctuary of soft, warm light and plush rugs, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of the dining room below.
"Lie down, Serena," Alaric instructed gently, leading her to the massive, plush bed. "I am going to have the estate doctor come up and examine you. I want to be absolutely certain the stress of today has not harmed you or my granddaughter."
Serena nodded weakly, settling carefully onto the mattress. She looked up at her father, her blue eyes wide with a mixture of exhaustion and profound trust.
"You called her your granddaughter," Serena noted softly. "You don't care that it's a girl?"
Alaric sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out, his calloused thumb gently brushing a tear from her cheek.
"I care that she is a Montesi," Alaric whispered, his voice cracking with a rare, genuine emotion. "Blood is blood, Serena. Gender is an excuse used by weak men to justify their own insecurities. When the time comes, she will be taught how to rule, just as you were."
He stood up, kissing her forehead. "Rest now. The doctor will be here in a moment."
Alaric walked out of the suite, looking at his lead bodyguard standing rigidly in the hallway.
"Do not leave this door," Alaric whispered. "If anyone attempts to enter without my authorization, shoot them."
"Yes, Boss," the guard confirmed, his hand resting on his holstered weapon.
Alaric walked down the grand staircase, heading toward the heavily fortified war room in the lower levels of the estate. The cinematic brightness of the afternoon had faded into a deep, dangerous twilight. The revelation of Bastian's treason had opened a terrifying, bloody door, and Alaric intended to walk straight through it.
May you like
The war room was a windowless, reinforced bunker beneath the estate, illuminated by harsh overhead lights. A massive mahogany table sat in the center, covered with blueprints of the property and encrypted communication devices. Three senior Capos stood around the table, their suit jackets discarded, waiting for their Boss.
"Status," Alaric demanded, his deep, raspy voice commanding absolute attention as he entered the room.
