Chapter 6
The heavy mahogany doors slammed shut behind Nora, Marianne, and Lily, cutting off their rapid footsteps with a definitive, echoing thud. The grand banquet hall was plunged into a profound, ringing silence. The towering Christmas tree continued to sparkle, but the festive warmth of the room had entirely vanished, replaced by the freezing, calculated wrath of the mafia boss.
Silas Ashford walked slowly around the edge of the carved walnut table. He did not move to strike Vivienne, but his stillness was far more lethal than any sudden outburst of violence. His tailored dark three-piece suit seemed to absorb the light as he stopped just inches away from her.
"Who helped you falsify the dental records from the fire, Vivienne?" Silas asked, his deep, measured voice dropping into a register that shook the very air. "Which of my men sold his loyalty for your stolen coin to guard that door?"
Vivienne backed away, her elegant evening gown catching on the leg of a velvet dining chair. The aristocratic polish was gone, leaving only naked terror. "I won't tell you! If I give you a name, you will kill me! My silence is the only thing keeping me alive!"
"Do you believe leverage exists for a woman who has just admitted to kidnapping my blood?" Silas countered, stepping closer, his imposing frame blocking her escape.
He didn't wait for her to answer. He turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the four heavily armed guards stationed near the service doors.
"Are you men going to secure this traitor, or must I break her legs myself before we walk downstairs?" Silas asked, his command absolute.
Two massive enforcers stepped forward instantly, moving with terrifying, synchronized efficiency. They grabbed Vivienne roughly by the arms, entirely ignoring the expensive fabric of her emerald gown.
"Get your hands off me!" Vivienne screamed as they dragged her backward toward the corridor. "My family will not stand for this! You need our political connections, Silas! You cannot survive without my father's alliance!"
"Do you expect me to fear a corrupt politician more than I despise a monster standing in my dining room?" Silas asked to her retreating back. "Take her down to the basement holding cells. Ensure she is stripped of all jewelry and communication devices."
"You are a dead man, Silas!" Vivienne shrieked, her diamond earrings swinging wildly as they hauled her through the service doors. "My father will burn this mansion to the ground!"
"We will see," Silas murmured.
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The heavy service doors slammed shut, instantly cutting off Vivienne’s frantic screams. The grand dining hall was plunged back into a profound, ringing silence. Silas stood perfectly still for a long moment, the adrenaline of the confrontation slowly ebbing from his system, leaving behind a profound, aching exhaustion.
He had rescued his wife and defended his daughter, but the political fallout with Vivienne's powerful family would inevitably ignite a massive war in the coming days. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, rolling his broad shoulders to release the coiled tension, before turning toward the grand staircase to face the ghosts of his past.
