Chapter 10
The tension in the lavish guest suite was a physical, vibrating force. Elodie looked up into Soren’s cold, perceptive eyes, her heart aching with a sudden, profound terror of losing the man who had just dismantled his empire to protect his children.
"I promise," Elodie whispered, tears spilling over her lower eyelids and tracking down her delicate cheekbones. "Please, Soren. Bring him home. And come back to us."
"Do you think I would let them take me away from you now?" Soren asked, offering a faint, terrifying smile that promised absolute devastation to his enemies.
He didn't wait for her to answer. He turned and strode out of the master suite, stepping into the chaotic, flashing hallway. The bright, luminous colors of the mansion were quickly being replaced by the chaotic strobe of emergency lights as the estate prepared for a potential siege.
Elodie rushed forward, pushing the heavy oak doors shut and engaging the thick brass deadbolts. The metallic clicks echoed loudly in the quiet room. She leaned her back against the solid wood, closing her eyes and praying for the safe return of the mafia boss.
Outside, the cool night air whipped against Soren’s face as he stepped out of the mansion's front doors. Four heavily armored SUVs sat idling in the circular driveway, their engines roaring like caged beasts. Dozens of tactical operatives, dressed in black and heavily armed, stood at attention as their king approached.
Soren discarded the remnants of his tailored dark three-piece suit, accepting a heavy tactical vest from Marcus. The refined artistic tattoos across his hands and fingers flexed as he gripped a customized automatic rifle, racking the slide with a sharp, metallic clatter that cut through the engine noise.
"Are the teams briefed on the layout of Thorne's safe house?" Soren asked his underboss, his deep voice carrying effortlessly over the din.
"Yes, Boss. We have multiple entry points mapped out," Marcus replied, chambering a round in his own weapon. "It's going to be a bloodbath."
"Do they believe stealing my blood will go unpunished?" Soren asked, his eyes turning to absolute ice.
He climbed into the lead vehicle, sitting in the passenger seat. The armored doors slammed shut, sealing them inside.
"Will you drive?" Soren commanded the operative behind the wheel.
The convoy tore out of the mansion gates, tires screeching against the asphalt as they sped into the darkness of the city. The engagement dinner had ended in a broken alliance, but the true war for the Blackwell empire had only just begun. Camilla’s father thought he was dealing with a disgraced fiancé; he was about to discover he had awakened a monster protecting his family.
As the city lights blurred past the tinted windows, Soren methodically checked his ammunition. He pictured the terrified face of his infant son, the brave stance of his young daughter, and the beautiful, resolute eyes of the housemaid waiting for him behind a locked door.
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"Shall we show them exactly what it costs to threaten my home?" Soren asked the empty air of the cabin.
He raised his weapon, staring out into the night, ready to burn the world to ash as the final battle for his son erupted into absolute, unforgiving chaos.
