Chapter 7
"You can't do this, Ryan!" Marco yelled, scrambling backward against the wall, trying to put distance between himself and the terrifying Mafia boss. "We are senior members of this family! You touch us, and half the capos will revolt! You need my men on the docks!"
"I need nothing. From a dead man," Ryan replied, his voice a low, vibrating hum that promised absolute destruction.
He slowly reached up and adjusted the cuffs of his open-collar white dress shirt, his sharp, intimidating eyes never leaving Marco's face. The refined tattoos on his neck shifted as his jaw clenched.
The sound of frantic footsteps echoed down the hallway. Emily Carter, the household manager, rushed back into the corridor, flanked by four heavily armed bodyguards. When Emily saw the shattered ceramics, the broken coat rack, and the bleeding Marco, she gasped, pressing a hand over her mouth.
"Mr. Carter!" Emily cried, looking at Ava holding Lily’s hand. "Oh my god. Is that..."
"Take my daughters. To my private office," Ryan commanded, not looking away from the traitors on the floor. "Lock the heavy doors. Do not let anyone inside. Not even the capos."
"Yes, sir. Immediately," Emily nodded frantically. She rushed forward, gently taking Ava and Lily by their hands. "Come with me, sweethearts. You are safe now."
Ava looked back at Ryan as Emily led her away. "Are you going to make the scary lady go away, Daddy?"
"Yes, Ava," Ryan murmured, a rare, momentary softness touching his eyes. "She is never going to hurt you again."
Once the children were safely out of sight, Ryan turned his full, terrifying attention back to Mara and Marco.
"You hid her. Because you wanted the throne," Ryan stated, pacing slowly toward Mara. His polished leather shoes crunched over the broken ceramic shards. "If I had a living, legitimate heir from my first marriage... your position as my wife would always be secondary. You wouldn't control the trust."
Mara squeezed her eyes shut, sobbing into her hands. "I just wanted to be your only family, Ryan. I gave you Lily! I gave you a perfect, healthy daughter! Why wasn't that enough?"
"You used my grief. To secure your power," Ryan said, his volume dropping into a freezing whisper. "You let me visit an empty grave for six years."
"Boss," the lead bodyguard said, stepping forward hesitantly. "What are your orders?"
"Take Marco to the basement interrogation room," Ryan instructed without a shred of emotion. "Zip-tie him to the steel chair. I will deal with him personally when I am finished here."
"Ryan, you can't!" Marco screamed as two massive guards grabbed him by the arms, hauling him roughly to his feet. "I'm your brother-in-law! The Commission will call a tribunal for this!"
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"Let them call it," Ryan replied coldly. "I will bring them your head on a platter."
The guards dragged the thrashing, bleeding Marco down the hallway, leaving Ryan entirely alone with his treacherous wife amidst the bright, cinematic ruins of the corridor.
