Chapter 5
The silence in the grand ballroom was suffocating. The elite guests, the very people Clive had hoped to sway with his staged humiliation, now looked at him with profound disgust and fear. In the mafia world, failure was dangerous, but being caught orchestrating a clumsy, cowardly setup against the boss was a death sentence.
Clive’s knees buckled slightly. He looked around frantically, searching the crowd of relatives and associates for a single sympathetic face. He found none.
“Lachlan, please,” Clive begged, his American accent losing all its refined edges, reducing him to a whimpering mess. “I’m your blood. I’m your cousin. We grew up together. You can't kill me over a watch.”
“Are you under the illusion that this is about a watch, Clive?” Lachlan asked, his voice dropping into a lethal, vibrating register. “Or is it about the fact that you attempted to shatter the stability of our family on the eve of a major wedding, solely to stroke your own fragile ego?”
Annalise watched the exchange, her hand still resting lightly on Lachlan’s forearm. She could feel the immense, coiled tension in his muscles. She knew the brutal laws of the syndicate, and she knew that Clive’s actions demanded blood. Yet, standing beside the terrifying mafia boss, she felt entirely safe.
Lachlan turned his head slightly, addressing the two bodyguards who had wisely stepped away from the conflict.
“Will you escort my cousin to the soundproof holding cells beneath the estate?” Lachlan commanded, his tone leaving absolutely no room for negotiation. “And will you ensure he is secured tightly until the wedding concludes tomorrow?”
The Black American bodyguard nodded sharply. “Yes, Boss.”
The two massive men stepped forward. Clive let out a high-pitched, hysterical scream as they grabbed him roughly by the arms of his expensive tuxedo.
“No! You can't lock me in a cell! I am a Bellcroft!” Clive shrieked, kicking his polished shoes against the marble floor as they dragged him backward. “He will kill me! Someone help me!”
None of the sixty guests moved an inch. They watched in absolute silence as Clive was dragged out of the brightly lit ballroom. The heavy oak doors swung shut, cutting off his frantic screams with a definitive, echoing thud.
Lachlan let out a slow, measured breath. The immediate threat was neutralized, but the atmosphere of the rehearsal dinner was completely ruined. He turned his broad shoulders, his dark eyes sweeping over the pale, shocked faces of his family and guests.
“Is there anyone else in this room who wishes to test the functionality of our security system tonight?” Lachlan asked, his voice calm and unyielding.
When no one spoke, Lachlan nodded once. “Then I suggest you all return to your drinks. The celebration will continue as planned.”
He didn't wait to see if they obeyed. He turned away from the crowd, looking down at the beautiful housemaid who was still holding his arm.
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“Will you come with me to the study, Annalise?” Lachlan asked softly, the terrifying boss vanishing entirely, replaced by a man looking at the woman who had just saved him.
“Yes, sir,” Annalise whispered, her expressive eyes wide.
