Chapter 10
The transition from a quiet, terrified maid to the undisputed queen of the Crowne syndicate was not an overnight miracle. Over the next six months, Lena learned the intricate, dangerous dance of her new life. She sat beside Emmett in meetings, her gentle presence a terrifying contrast to his ruthless reputation. The men who worked for Emmett quickly learned that while the boss demanded respect, disrespecting his wife was an immediate death sentence.
Spring had arrived, bringing a burst of color to the sprawling gardens of the estate. The scars of the winter war were fully erased from the mansion's architecture.
Lena stood on the grand stone balcony overlooking the eastern courtyard, holding a cup of tea. She wore a beautifully tailored emerald green dress that complimented her fair, rosy skin. The diamond ring sparkled heavily on her left hand.
Below her, in the lush grass, Emmett was playing with Theo. The formidable mafia boss was currently acting as a roaring monster, chasing the giggling toddler around a large oak tree. Theo’s laughter drifted up to the balcony, the most beautiful sound Lena had ever heard.
"Mommy! Look at Papa!" Theo shrieked with joy, pointing a tiny finger at Emmett, who had dramatically collapsed onto the grass in defeat.
Lena smiled warmly, resting her hands on the stone balustrade. "I see him, sweetheart! He's a very scary monster!"
Emmett sat up, brushing the grass from his tailored trousers. He looked up at the balcony, his dark eyes instantly locking onto Lena's. Even from a distance, the raw, possessive love in his gaze was palpable. He gave her a small, secret smile before scooping Theo up into his arms and tossing him into the air, drawing another squeal of delight from the boy.
Suddenly, the heavy glass doors behind Lena opened.
Marcus stepped onto the balcony, his scarred face unusually pale. He didn't look at the idyllic scene playing out in the garden. He looked directly at Lena, his jaw set tightly.
"Mrs. Crowne," Marcus said, his voice tense.
Lena turned, her smile fading as she read the underboss's expression. The instincts she had forged in blood during the winter siege instantly flared to life. "What is it, Marcus?"
"We just received an encrypted transmission on the secure server," Marcus said, stepping closer and lowering his voice so it wouldn't carry to the garden. "It was heavily scrambled, routed through a dozen offshore proxies."
"From who?" Lena asked, a cold knot forming in her stomach.
"That's the problem," Marcus replied grimly. "It used the Voss family cipher. The one we thought died with Elias and Natalie."
Lena’s breath hitched. The tea cup in her hand rattled slightly against its saucer. "Natalie is dead. We buried her. Elias is dead."
"I know," Marcus said. "But the message was addressed directly to you, Lena. Not Emmett. You."
Lena set her tea down on a small wrought-iron table. She looked over the balcony edge one last time. Emmett had stopped playing. He was staring up at the balcony, his sharp eyes noticing Marcus's presence and the sudden shift in Lena's posture. He gently set Theo down and began walking purposefully toward the house.
Lena turned back to Marcus, her bright eyes narrowing, hardening into the gaze of a woman who would burn the world down to protect her family.
"What did the message say, Marcus?"
Marcus hesitated for a fraction of a second before delivering the words that would shatter their fragile peace.
May you like
"It said... 'Servants don't get to be loved. I'm coming back for what is mine.'"
Downstairs, the heavy doors of the garden entrance slammed open as Emmett entered the house, sensing the shifting tide. The war, it seemed, was not entirely over.
