Chapter 2 - THE BROOKLYN SHADOWSThe heavily armored Maybach tore through the storm-drenched streets of Lower Manhattan, its engine roaring like a wounded beast.
In the backseat, Elise sat trembling, clutching her torn silk gown around her knees. Beside her, Mateo calmly reloaded two spare magazines, his white dress shirt stained with soot and a thin line of blood running down his jaw where a flying glass shard had cut him.
"Where are you taking me?" Elise demanded, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to appear strong.
"To the place where your father spent thirty years keeping secrets," Mateo replied without looking up. "The central archives beneath the Brooklyn Public Library."
Elise blinked in disbelief. "The library? It’s been closed for renovations for over a year!"
"It isn't under renovation. It's under quarantine," Mateo said smoothly. "Your father triggered an electronic lockdown on the subterranean vault thirty minutes before his 'accident' four years ago. The Bratva has been trying to blast through six feet of titanium ever since. They failed because they lacked two things: my bloodline, and your ring."
He reached out, his calloused fingers gently catching the platinum chain around her neck.
Elise froze as his knuckles brushed against the warm, sensitive skin of her collarbone. Mateo unhooked the chain, bringing the silver signet ring up to the faint amber dashboard light.
"Micro-engraved cryptographic code," Mateo murmured. "Combined with the master key encoded in my family's DNA, it disarms the thermite charges inside the vault."
"And if we open it?" Elise challenged, leaning closer, forced to meet his unyielding gaze. "What then? You take the ledger, ruin your rivals, and become the undisputed King of New York? Is that why my father died? To build your throne?"
A shadow of intense pain crossed Mateo’s features—a rare, fleeting glimpse beneath the mask of the ruthless Don.
"Your father died because he refused to give the ledger to my uncle," Mateo said softly, his voice dropping an octave. "And I took control of this family so I could burn it."
Before Elise could process his words, the driver slammed on the brakes!
The Maybach skidded violently across the rain-slicked cobblestones of the Brooklyn navy yard, spinning 180 degrees before slamming into a row of rusty shipping containers.
"Ambush!" Marco yelled from the front seat.
Outside, six black SUVs blocked the narrow alleyway, their high beams blinding the car. Dozens of armed men in tactical gear stepped out into the pouring rain, raising automatic rifles.
Among them stood Viktor Volkov, clutching a heavy military grenade launcher.
"Mateo!" Elise gasped, grabbing his arm.
Mateo pulled her down toward the floorboards, pulling his secondary weapon from his ankle holster and handing it to her.
"Do you know how to use a firearm, Elise?"
May you like
"No!"
"Then pull the trigger if anyone who isn't me opens that door," Mateo growled, kissing her forehead with fierce, possessive warmth. "Stay low."
