The cold February wind felt like broken glass against my skin as I stood frozen on the frost-bitten lawn. The silver charm sat in Emma's tiny, steady palm—glinting under the pale winter sun like a drop of fresh blood.

Outside, the muffled sounds of gunfire and shouting echoed across the estate grounds.

Luca’s eyes widened in panic. He spun around toward the hallway, but the heavy oak doors clicked shut from the outside and bolted automatically.

"What is this?" Dominic shouted, his composure shattering instantly as he lunged forward, grabbing Luca by the collar. "What did you do, Dante?"

"You thought you owned my guards, Dominic?" I walked around the desk, my movements smooth and unhurried. "You think because you slipped them a few extra thousands in envelopes that they forgot who pays their families' medical bills? Who feeds them when they're locked away? Loyalty bought with cash is cheap, brother. Loyalty bought with blood and brotherhood is eternal."

The overhead lights flickered and died, plunging the study into the red glow of the emergency backup strips.

Through the intercom system on the wall, the calm, deep voice of Marco—my loyal head of security—boomed across the room: "Boss, perimeter is secured. All of Dominic’s loyalists have been neutralized. The estate is locked down tight. No one leaves."

Dominic backed away, his face turning pale as paper. He looked at Luca, who was desperately trying to force the locked door open with the butt of his gun.