Chapter 43 - THE MANOR UNDER SIEGE
Nicholas’s entire universe shrank to a pinpoint of burning white heat.
"My mother died of heart failure in Milan," Nicholas said, each word sounding like a stone falling into a deep well.
"That was the story Victor told a nine-year-old boy before shipping him off to military boarding school," Isabella said. "Come back to the manor, Nicholas. The feds have cleared the outer grounds. Agent Miller is under orders to let you through the sub-basement sally port. Bring Daniel. Bring the child. It’s time to open the final drawer."
The line went dead.
Nicholas lowered the phone. He didn't look at Maria. He didn't look at Daniel.
He walked over to Victor Caruso, grabbed the old man by his lapels, and hoisted him off the floor with one arm until their noses were inches apart.
"Is it true?" Nicholas whispered.
Victor looked into his son’s eyes—eyes that held no mercy, no anger, only the chilling void of absolute death. Victor’s lips trembled, his defiance finally crumbling into pathetic, naked terror.
"She... she was going to take you away, Nicky," Victor stammered, blood dripping from his chin onto Nicholas’s knuckles. "She was taking you to Europe. She wanted to sever you from the family. If she took you, the Caruso line ended. I couldn't... I had an empire to build!"
Nicholas didn't strike him. He didn't scream.
He simply dropped Victor onto the floor like a piece of garbage.
"Maria," Nicholas said calmly, turning his back on his father. "Take Daniel and Lucy. There’s an armored Suburban parked behind the rail siding, key under the left wheel well. Drive them to the safehouse on 84th Street. Agent Miller will have men stationed there."
"Nicholas, no," Maria stepped forward, gripping his arm tightly. "You can't go back into that house alone. Whatever is in that vault, Isabella wants you there for a reason. She’s orchestrating every step!"
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"I know," Nicholas said, pulling his leather gloves tight over his bruised knuckles. "And I’m going to watch her close the curtain."
***
