Chapter 2 - INTO THE SNAKE PIT
The next morning at 5:50 AM, Hannah stepped off the bus in front of the Romano estate. The iron gates swung open automatically, as if expecting her.
The house was a fortress of marble, glass, and steel overlooking the city skyline. But inside, it smelled like cold mahogany, expensive scotch, and hidden danger.
When Hannah reached the main living area, Adrien was already up, sitting near the floor-to-ceiling windows with an iPad in hand. Standing around him were three men in tailored suits. Among them was Marcus Romano, Adrien’s cousin—a slick, sharp-featured man with eyes that moved like a viper's.
"...the board is getting impatient, Adrien," Marcus was saying, his tone dripping with fake concern. "With you trapped in that chair, the Moretti family is moving in on our harbor territories. You need to sign over executive authority to me until you... recover."
"I run this family from this chair just as well as I did on my feet, Marcus," Adrien answered, his voice smooth and deadly. "And the harbors remain under my direct command."
Marcus sneered, turning away—and his eyes landed on Hannah as she walked in carrying a therapy kit.
Marcus let out a loud, mocking laugh. "What is this? Adrien, is this your new nurse? Where did you find her, a discount bakery?"
The two lieutenants behind Marcus chuckled nervously.
Hannah felt a sudden flush of heat rise to her cheeks. She was used to cruel comments about her body—she had endured them from her ex-fiancé, from store clerks, from society. But before she could speak, a bone-chilling voice sliced through the room.
"Marcus."
Adrien turned his chair slowly toward his cousin. The atmosphere in the room plummeted ten degrees.
"Apologize to Miss Mitchell," Adrien said softly.
Marcus froze, his grin fading into disbelief. "What? Adrien, she's hired help. A fat nobody—"
CLANG.
Adrien slammed his silver pen onto the glass table so hard it cracked.
"She is my personal physical therapist," Adrien growled, his gray eyes flashing with lethal fury. "If you disrespect anyone under my roof again, Marcus, I will have Victor remove your tongue. Do you understand me?"
Marcus turned pale, his jaw tightening. He cast a murderous glance at Hannah before nodding stiffly. "My apologies, Miss Mitchell."
"Get out," Adrien ordered.
As Marcus and his men scrambled out of the grand room, Hannah stood rooted to the spot, her heart hammering against her ribs. No one had ever defended her like that before. Not her family, not her ex—nobody.
"Don't flatter yourself," Adrien said, breaking the silence as he returned his attention to his screen, his tone as distant as ever. "He was challenging my authority in my own house. I don't tolerate insubordination."
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"Thank you anyway, Mr. Romano," Hannah said softly, walking over to set up the stretch bands. "Now, put the iPad down. It's time for your leg elevation exercises."
Adrien glared at her, but for the first time, he didn't refuse.
