Chapter 10
The bright, airy cinematic light of the sunroom suddenly felt harsh and unforgiving. The revelation hung heavily in the air. Vivienne hadn't just sought revenge; she had brokered a catastrophic alliance. By revealing Lily’s true identity to the Moretti family, she had given the Commission a legitimate, terrifying reason to sanction a full-scale war against Nathaniel. Harboring a federal informant's daughter was a direct violation of the old codes.
Lily stumbled backward, her legs hitting the edge of the velvet sofa. She felt physically sick.
"Nathaniel," Lily gasped, her voice trembling violently. "They know. You have to hand me over to them. If you don't, they will strip you of your territory. They will kill you and everyone in this house."
Nathaniel didn't even look at her. He kept his cold, perceptive eyes locked entirely on Marcus.
"Did Moretti demand a vote for my removal?" Nathaniel asked, his voice a low, lethal hum that betrayed absolutely no panic.
"Yes, Boss," Marcus confirmed, checking the encrypted phone. "The tribunal convenes in exactly twenty-four hours. If you don't show up and hand the girl over to the Morettis, the entire Commission will back a coordinated hit on the estate."
"Good," Nathaniel stated simply.
Marcus blinked, confused by the response. "Good? Boss, they have the numbers. If the Commission backs Moretti, we will be fighting a war on five different fronts by tomorrow night."
"They rely on numbers because they lack conviction," Nathaniel said smoothly, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit. He turned away from the security chief and finally looked at Lily.
She was pale and shaking, terrified that she had brought destruction down upon the only man who had ever made her feel safe.
Nathaniel walked over to her, his polished leather shoes silent on the rug. He reached out and gently gripped her arms, pulling her firmly against his powerful, broad chest. The sheer, immovable strength of his masculine frame grounded her instantly.
"Listen to me very carefully, Lily," Nathaniel murmured, his deep voice vibrating against her cheek. "I told you that you are under my protection. That was not a conditional statement. I do not surrender what is mine."
"But the Commission—"
"The Commission is a relic," Nathaniel interrupted, his eyes burning with a dark, unyielding fire. "They believe they can dictate the rules of my city from a boardroom in Chicago. They are about to learn a very painful lesson in modern warfare."
He released her slowly and turned back to Marcus, the lethal Mafia boss fully emerging.
"Recall all the heavy teams from the ports," Nathaniel commanded, his voice echoing with absolute authority. "Lock down the perimeter of the estate. I want snipers on the roof and the heavy armored vehicles blocking the gates. No one gets within a mile of this house."
"And the tribunal, Boss?" Marcus asked, typing frantic orders into his phone. "Are we ignoring the summons?"
"No," Nathaniel replied, a cold, merciless smile curling the corner of his lips. "We are going to attend. But we are not going to talk."
Nathaniel turned his gaze back to Lily, his dark eyes sweeping over her beautiful, terrified face. He reached out, his tattooed fingers gently grazing the titanium lanyard around her neck, tracing the edge of the master override keycard he had given her.
"Take Sophie down to the subterranean bunker," Nathaniel instructed softly, leaning in close. "Lock the heavy doors, and do not open them for anyone but me or Marcus. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Lily whispered, her heart pounding with a mixture of terror and awe. "Please... be careful."
"I will be back," Nathaniel promised, pressing a brief, fierce kiss to her forehead. The touch was electric, a seal on his vow to return.
May you like
He turned and walked purposefully out of the bright sunroom, moving into the shadows of the hallway to prepare for war. He had dismantled an engagement to protect his daughter, and now he was prepared to burn the entire American underworld to the ground to protect the woman he loved.
The storm was breaking, but Nathaniel Cross was the lightning.
