THE EVICTION NOTICE

The silence in the SUV was absolute and terrifying.

Luca didn't yell. He didn't slam his fist against the leather seats. He just stared straight ahead, a cold, empty void opening in his dark eyes that scared me more than any outburst.

“Don Bellini,” Luca whispered, the name sounding like poison on his tongue.

“He played us, Boss,” Daniel said, his voice tight with anger as he sped through the rainy streets. “The demolition of the building was a distraction. While we pulled all our men to 4th Street to fight the Romanos, Bellini walked right into the estate.”

“He allied with the Romanos,” Luca realized, the puzzle pieces clicking together. “Vanessa didn't sell the building behind her father’s back. Bellini orchestrated the entire thing to fracture my forces, distract me, and take the mansion.”

I sat frozen in the backseat, clutching the cracked silver pocket watch Luca had given me.

My little sister, Lily, was still at the estate. She was in my room, asleep. If Bellini’s men were sweeping the house, they would find her.

“Mr. Moretti,” I said, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “My sister is there.”

Luca turned to me, the coldness in his eyes softening just a fraction when he saw the sheer terror on my face.

“I know, Sophie,” Luca said gently, his hand squeezing mine. “I won't let them hurt her. Or anyone else.”

He looked back at Daniel. “How many men do we have left at the perimeter?”

“Ten,” Daniel replied grimly. “The rest are tied up dealing with the police fallout from the building collapse. Bellini outnumbers us five to one. If we go in guns blazing, he’ll execute the hostages before we even reach the front steps.”

“We’re not going in guns blazing,” Luca said, his mind working rapidly. “We’re going to give him exactly what he wants.”

Daniel frowned, glancing in the rearview mirror. “Sir?”

“Bellini wants me to surrender the territory,” Luca said flatly. “He wants me to walk through those front doors and hand over the keys to the Chicago syndicate on a silver platter. So, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“You’re surrendering?!” Marco gasped from the passenger seat. “Boss, they’ll kill you the second you sign the papers!”

“They won't kill me,” Luca said, a dangerous, dark smile touching the corners of his mouth. “Because Bellini is an arrogant old man. He wants to gloat. He wants to humiliate me in front of my men. He wants a show.”

Luca turned to Marco. “When we get to the gates, I’m walking in alone. You and Daniel take the men around to the service tunnels beneath the wine cellar. When I give the signal, you cut the main power line.”

“And then?” Daniel asked.

“And then we hunt in the dark,” Luca said.

Ten minutes later, the SUV pulled to a halt outside the massive wrought-iron gates of the Moretti estate. The gates were heavily guarded by Bellini’s men, armed with assault rifles.

Luca didn't hesitate. He stepped out of the vehicle into the freezing rain, his hands raised in the air, completely unarmed.

He walked slowly toward the gates.

“Luca Moretti!” one of the guards shouted, racking the slide of his rifle. “Stop right there!”

“I’m here to see Don Bellini,” Luca shouted back, his voice steady. “Tell him I’m ready to negotiate.”

The guards patted him down roughly, finding nothing, and shoved him through the gates, marching him toward the mansion.

I watched from the tinted windows of the SUV, my heart in my throat. He was walking into a firing squad.

“Alright, boys,” Daniel said, turning to the heavily armed men in the back of the SUV. “We have exactly five minutes before the boss needs the lights out. Move!”

The men piled out of the car, disappearing into the shadows of the estate’s perimeter wall.

I was left alone in the dark SUV, clutching the silver pocket watch.

I couldn't just sit there. My sister was inside.

I looked at the dashboard. The keys were still in the ignition.

I slid into the driver’s seat. I knew the estate better than anyone. I knew the blind spots, the servant passageways, the hidden doors that didn't appear on the architectural blueprints.

I put the SUV in drive, turned off the headlights, and slowly rolled toward the far west side of the property, aiming for the delivery entrance near the kitchens.

Inside the mansion, the grand foyer was a nightmare.

The entire catering staff, the maids, and the remaining security guards were forced to their knees on the marble floor, their hands zip-tied behind their backs.

At the top of the grand staircase stood Don Bellini, leaning heavily on his silver-tipped cane, looking down at the hostages with cold amusement.

Beside him stood Vanessa, still wearing her red silk engagement gown, holding a small pistol.

And kneeling at Vanessa’s feet, a gun pressed directly to her temple, was Luca’s teenage sister, Mia.

The heavy front doors swung open, and Luca was shoved into the foyer by the guards.

The room went dead silent.

Luca looked at his sister, his jaw clenching so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek, but he kept his expression perfectly blank.

“Luca,” Don Bellini smiled, a dry, rattling sound. “So glad you could join us for dessert. I heard you had a busy evening playing hero on 4th Street.”

“Let my sister go, Bellini,” Luca said, his voice echoing in the massive room. “This is between you and me.”

“Everything is between you and me, boy,” Bellini rasped, slowly descending the marble stairs. “You insulted my daughter. You broke an alliance that took years to build. And you thought you could stand against the Romanos without my permission.”

He reached the bottom of the stairs, stopping a few feet from Luca.

“I have the transfer deeds right here,” Bellini said, pulling a folded document from his suit jacket. “Sign over the casinos, the ports, and the downtown real estate. You do that, and I let the girl live. You refuse, and Vanessa paints the stairs with her brains.”

Vanessa smiled cruelly, pressing the barrel of her pistol harder against Mia’s head. The young girl sobbed, terrified.

Luca stared at the old man, his dark eyes burning with absolute hatred.

“You really think the Commission will let you take my territory by force?” Luca asked, stalling for time.

“The Commission will accept the signed documents,” Bellini laughed. “They only respect power, Luca. And right now, you have none.”

Bellini held out a gold pen.

Luca slowly reached out to take it.

He glanced up at the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling.

He counted down in his head.

Three.

Two.