Chapter 28
Tears blurred my vision as Primo’s voice continued to echo across the grounds.
“Seven!”
I pushed up from my crouched position, ready to shout back, but Adrian’s hand clamped over my mouth as he pulled me back down. His touch was gentle but firm.
“Six!”
Adrian rose to his feet in one fluid motion, his gray eyes finding mine in the darkness. “I love you,” he whispered.
The words hit me like a physical blow. Before I could process them, before I could
even breathe, he turned toward the
window.
“Five!”
“That’s enough, Primo!” Adrian’s voice.
carried across the lawn. “Isn’t this what you wanted? Take me first.”
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The countdown stopped. My mother’s whimper was the only sound breaking the
sudden silence.
Adrian’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “Call Vincent,” he murmured, voice low and urgent. “Both of you. Get him to reach out to Primo- anything to buy us time. He’s the only one Primo might listen to right now.”
“Adrian, don’t-” The words caught in my throat.
“Four!” Primo’s voice held a new edge of excitement.
“I’m coming out!” Adrian called back. He turned to Dad. “Vincent. Now. He’s your best chance at delaying this.”
Dad was already pulling out his phone, fingers flying across the screen. I fumbled for mine, heart pounding so hard I could barely see straight.
“Three!”
Adrian’s hand brushed my cheek, thumb
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wiping away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “Make the call,” he whispered, then stepped toward the door.
Through the window, I watched Adrian descend the steps with his hands raised. My heart threatened to burst from my
chest.
Primo’s laughter cut through the night air. “Good job, Adrian. You’ll have the honor of being first.” His voice dripped with
satisfaction. “Then I’ll take care of our dear Asteria and her family.”
I pressed my face against the glass, unable to look away as Primo’s fist connected with Adrian’s jaw. Adrian’s head snapped back, but he didn’t make a sound. Blood trickled
from the corner of his mouth.
Primo pressed the gun against Adrian’s temple. The metal gleamed in the moonlight. “Goodbye Adrian.”
His finger tightened on the trigger. I bit back a scream.
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A shrill ring pierced the silence. Primo’s
eyes darted to his SUV where his phone lit up the dashboard. The name “Vincent” flashed across the screen.
My heart pounded against my ribs as Primo glanced at his phone again. The ring continued to echo across the lawn. With a growl of frustration, he kept the gun trained on Adrian with one hand while answering with the other.
“Vincent, this isn’t a good time.” Primo’s jaw clenched. “No, you don’t understand. The Mitchells are harboring-” He stopped mid- sentence, listening.
I pressed closer to the window, straining to make out Vincent’s words on the other end. Primo’s face contorted with growing anger.
“He’s an impersonator! They’re protecting someone who-” Another pause. Primo’s knuckles whitened around the gun. “But sir, this man-”
Whatever Vincent said next made Primo’s
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expression shift. The fury in his eyes gave. way to something else – uncertainty. The gun lowered slightly from Adrian’s temple.
“I understand the consequences, but-” Primo ran a hand through his hair. “Yes. Yes, I hear you.” His voice had lost its earlier edge.
Adrian remained perfectly still, hands still raised, blood trickling from his split lip. His eyes found mine through the window for a fraction of a second.
Primo ended the call with a sharp curse. He stepped back, lowering the gun completely. “Pull back!” he barked at his men. “Everyone, Now!”
The armed figures melted away into the shadows. Primo’s cold gaze fixed on
Adrian.
“Looks like it’s your lucky day,
Constantine.” Primo wiped Adrian’s blood off his knuckles. “You get to live a few more
hours.”
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His voice boomed across the lawn. “Asteria! Mr. Mitchell! Vincent’s called an
emergency council meeting of the Big Five. He wants all of you brought there.” He tapped his gun against his thigh. “Step out now!”
Dad’s phone buzzed. He spoke in hushed tones with Vincent while I gripped the windowsill, knuckles white.
“It’s true,” Dad whispered. “Vincent says to comply. He’ll handle this.”
We descended the steps, my legs shaking with each step. As soon as we reached the bottom, Primo’s fist shot out, catching Adrian across the jaw again. Fresh blood sprayed from his mouth.
“Not so smug now, are you?” Primo’s eyes gleamed.
Η
His men grabbed us roughly, shoving us toward the waiting SUVS. Mom stumbled as they dragged her along with us.
“What’s happening? Where are they taking
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us?” Mom’s voice cracked with panic. “James, please-”
“It’s alright, Sarah.” Dad wrapped an arm around her shoulders as we were pushed into the back of the vehicle. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Dad’s right,” I squeezed her hand, trying to keep my own voice steady. “We just need to stay calm.”
Adrian caught my eye from where they’d shoved him against the opposite seat. Despite his split lip and the bruises already forming on his face, his expression. remained composed.
“Trust me,” he said softly. “Nothing’s going to happen to any of you. I promise.”
The SUV wound through dark streets. My shoulder pressed against Adrian’s with
every curve.
The vehicle finally pulled up to an imposing building, its marble façade gleaming under ornate lighting. Two
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armed guards flanked the elaborate entrance doors.
Primo’s men yanked us out of the car. The marble floors echoed with our footsteps as they marched us through a series of corridors.
The doors to the main hall swung open. My breath caught at the sheer size of the space, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. At the center, a massive semi-circular table dominated the room.
Four figures sat at the table, their presence commanding even from a distance. Vincent occupied one of the chairs, hist face unreadable as we approached. The other three heads of the Big Five families watched us with calculating eyes. The fifth chair – belonging to the most powerful family, was empty.
Primo strode ahead of us, his footsteps echoing across the marble floor. He
stopped before the table, inclining his head slightly to the assembled leaders.
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“Honorable council,” he announced, voice carrying through the cavernous space. “I’ve brought the Mitchells and their… guest… as requested.”
Vincent’s gaze swept over us, lingering on Adrian’s bloodied face before settling on Primo. The other family heads remained silent, their expressions giving nothing away as they studied our group.
My heart hammered against my ribs as we stood there, waiting. The empty chair seemed to mock us with its significance – whatever was about to happen, we’d have to face it without the Big One’s presence.