Chapter 6 - THE UNEXPECTED THREAT
Two months later.
Summer had arrived in full force. The grounds of the Duca estate were vibrant with blooming red roses, green lawns, and the clear blue water of the newly renovated outdoor swimming pool.
Lucas was walking again. His legs, once wasted and weak, had regained muscle through daily physical therapy under Mara Quinn’s supervision. He was running across the grass, chasing Emma, who was giggling hysterically as she dodged his attempts to tag her.
Lorenzo sat on the stone patio under a large white umbrella, reviewing legal documents on his laptop. Clara sat across from him, sketching designs for the new art therapy studio she was planning to open in the city using her foundation funds.
Over the past two months, an undeniable bond had formed between Lorenzo and Clara. It wasn't rushed or dramatic; it was a quiet, deep mutual respect that was gradually blooming into something deeper. Clara brought warmth and laughter back into Lorenzo’s dark world, while Lorenzo offered her an unshakeable shield of protection and peace.
Suddenly, Daniel walked out onto the patio, his face grave. He held a high-encrypted satellite phone in his hand.
“Boss,” Daniel said in a low tone. “We have an issue.”
Lorenzo immediately looked up from his screen. “What is it?”
“Julian Vance,” Daniel replied.
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed. Julian Vance was a disgraced former business partner who had gone into hiding in Europe after the fall of the Chen syndicate.
“What about Vance?” Lorenzo asked.
“He just crossed the border into New Jersey using a forged diplomatic passport,” Daniel reported. “And our informants in the harbor say he’s brought six European mercenaries with him. He knows David Chen lost everything, and he blames you for shutting down his illegal weapons smuggling routes.”
Clara stopped sketching. Her face went pale as she looked out at the lawn where Lucas and Emma were playing.
Lorenzo stood up smoothly, closing his laptop.
“Where is he heading?” Lorenzo demanded.
“We tracked his vehicle to a warehouse four miles from here near the old rail yard,” Daniel said. “He’s setting up a sniper position targeting the front gates.”
Lorenzo’s expression turned into cold, hardened steel.
For months, he had stayed at home, focusing on his son’s recovery, allowing the world to think Lorenzo Duca had gone soft. It was time to remind the underworld why he was called the King of the Coast.
“Daniel,” Lorenzo commanded. “Lock down the estate perimeter. Put Arthur and Silas on the roof with long-range rifles. Nobody enters or leaves.”
“What are you going to do, Lorenzo?” Clara asked, her voice trembling as she stood up and grabbed his sleeve.
Lorenzo turned to look at her. He reached up, placing his warm hand over hers on his sleeve.
“I am going to handle a ghost from the past, Clara,” Lorenzo said softly. “So that our children never have to look over their shoulders again.”
He looked into her eyes, seeing genuine worry for him—not fear of him, but worry for him.
“Promise me you’ll come back,” Clara whispered.
May you like
Lorenzo leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead—a tender gesture that made Clara’s heart skip a beat.
“I always come back,” Lorenzo promised.
