Chapter 7
Nico did not flinch. He did not rush. He slowly stood up, leaned down, and kissed Sienna’s damp forehead.
"Rest, my darling," Nico murmured. "Focus on your breathing. Bring my grandson safely into this world. I will handle the noise outside."
Sienna gripped his wrist, her eyes wide with terror. "Dad... Marcus Cole has ex-military mercenaries. He's ruthless."
Nico looked down at her with a faint, devastatingly handsome smile that held the icy certainty of an executioner. "Ruthless? Marcus Cole is an accountant with an inheritance, Sienna. He has forgotten whose shadow he has lived in for thirty years."
He turned to Cassian. "Take Mila into the reinforced safe room behind my study. Place two men on the door with heavy armor."
"Yes, Boss," Cassian said, lifting the little girl gently into his arms. Mila wrapped her arms around the enforcer’s neck, clutching her hot chocolate cup, looking at Nico.
"Grandpa," Mila whispered. "Will Daddy go away now?"
Nico reached out, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. "Daddy is already gone, little bird. Go with Cassian."
Once the door clicked shut, Nico walked into the adjoining dressing room. He did not put on a tactical vest; he remained in his tailored trousers and unbuttoned white shirt. From a walnut display case on the wall, he retrieved an antique, custom-built Colt 1911 with pearl grips, checking the slide with a single, practiced snap of his wrist. He racked a round into the chamber and slipped the weapon into the shoulder holster beneath his arm.
He walked out into the central corridor, where eight Ferrante soldiers stood waiting in full tactical readiness, their suppressed assault rifles held at the low ready.
"Report," Nico commanded as they moved toward the grand staircase.
"Three vehicles breached the south gate using stolen electronic transponders," the lieutenant reported, matching Nico’s brisk stride. "Twelve to fifteen hostiles. Thermal optics confirm body armor and automatic weapons. They’re moving toward the courtyard, attempting to secure the ground-floor entrances."
"They came for Gavin," Nico observed calmly as they reached the grand foyer. "They think they can hit the estate, extract their family, and burn the ledgers before we mobilize the Five Families."
"Do we engage at the tree line, Boss?"
Nico stopped at the top of the grand marble staircase, looking down at the heavy reinforced mahogany double doors of the estate entrance. Through the sidelight windows, the faint sweep of infrared laser sights danced across the walls like crimson fireflies.
"No," Nico said, his voice dropping into that chilling, measured cadence. "Open the outer courtyard gates. Let them drive all the way onto the circular drive."
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The lieutenant blinked in surprise. "Sir?"
"A wolf does not hunt in the brush when the sheep walk straight into the pen," Nico said softly, unbuttoning his suit cuffs and rolling them back once more. "Kill the courtyard lights. Prepare the crossfire. Nobody leaves this driveway alive."
