a.He Watched Her Take Five Bullets for His Mother and Then the Most Feared Man in Chicago Fell Apart

BANG!

A shot echoed through the hallway—but it didn't come from Moretti’s gun.

Moretti’s right hand exploded in a cloud of red mist. His ivory-handled pistol clattered to the floor as he screamed in agony, clutching his ruined wrist.

At the top of the grand staircase stood Marco Duca.

He had arrived.

He didn't look like a businessman. He looked like a god of vengeance straight from the underworld. He was flanked by ten elite tactical guards armed with heavy assault shotguns. His eyes were cold, void of all humanity, locked onto Moretti.

"Kill them!" Moretti shrieked to his remaining two men, falling back onto his knees.

Before the hitmen could bring their rifles up, Marco’s guards opened fire. A hail of lead shredded the two gunmen, tossing their bodies over the balcony railing into the foyer below.

Marco walked down the hallway slowly, stepping over the dead bodies, his heavy leather boots thudding against the blood-stained carpet.

He didn't even glance at Moretti. His eyes went straight to Lena and Isabella.

"Are you hurt?" Marco asked, his voice low, gravelly, straining with immense control.

"We are okay, Marco," Lena whispered, her adrenaline fading, leaving her trembling. "Danny is safe in the panic room."

Marco reached out, his hand cupping the back of Lena’s neck, pulling her forehead against his chest for a brief, fierce second. "Good girl," he murmured softly. "My brave girl."

He turned around then, facing Antonio Moretti, who was crawling toward the balcony stairs, trailing blood behind him.

Marco walked over and planted his heavy boot firmly onto Moretti’s back, pinning the rival boss to the floor.

"Please... Marco... please!" Moretti begged, his arrogant facade completely shattered. "It was business! Just business! I’ll leave Chicago! I’ll surrender the West Side! Just let me live!"

Marco leaned down, his face inches from Moretti’s terrified eyes.

"You came into my home," Marco whispered, his tone so dark it made the air in the room feel freezing cold. "You threatened my mother. And you put a weapon in front of the woman I love."

"Marco, mercy—"