Chapter 83 Chapter 83
Damien’s POV
I stood in the hotel suite’s makeshift office, a secure room where Lorenzo and I could speak without being overheard. The city lights glittered through the window behind me, but I wasn’t looking at them. My focus was entirely on the map spread across the desk.
“These are the coordinates,” I said, circling a location with my finger. “The safe house is remote, fortified, and off the grid. But I need you to confirm it’s still secure. No Morelli surveillance, no compromised staff, nothing.”
Lorenzo studied the map carefully. “You want me to go personally?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “This is too important to delegate to anyone else. Take two men you trust absolutely, but keep it quiet. I don’t want anyone knowing where we’re planning to move the family.”
“Understood, boss,” Lorenzo said, memorizing the coordinates before I burned the map. “When do you want me to leave?”
“Tonight,” I said. “The sooner we confirm the location is safe, the sooner we can move everyone out of this hotel. Being in such a public place makes me nervous.”
Lorenzo nodded and left to make preparations.
I spent the rest of the evening coordinating security, reviewing reports, and trying to formulate a plan for striking back at the Morellis that wouldn’t leave my family vulnerable.
———
Midnight had come and gone when there was a knock at the office door.
“Come in,” I called out.
Vincent entered, looking exhausted but alert. His injured arm was still in its sling, and he moved carefully, but his eyes were sharp.
“Boss,” he said. “I have news from the other elders.”
“Sit,” I gestured to a chair. “What did you find out?”
Vincent settled into the seat with a grimace of pain. “I contacted all of them like you asked. None of the elders were attacked in their homes. They’re all safe.”
Relief flooded through me. At least the Morellis hadn’t succeeded in decapitating our entire leadership.
“But there’s something else,” Vincent continued, reaching into his jacket pocket with his good hand. He pulled out a piece of paper and laid it on the desk.
It was a simple white envelope with a red X marked across it.
“What is this?” I asked, though dread was already pooling in my gut.
“Every elder received one of these,” Vincent said. “Delivered to their homes yesterday, around the same time your compound was being attacked. No return address, no note inside. Just the envelope with the X.”
I picked it up carefully, examining it. The X was drawn in what looked like red marker, bold and deliberate.
“A warning,” I said quietly. “Or a threat.”
“That’s what we all thought,” Vincent agreed. “The Morellis are sending a message. They know where we live. They can reach us whenever they want.”
Before I could respond, there was another knock. Kai entered without waiting for permission, his expression urgent.
“Boss, we have news,” he said. “One of our affiliate gangs just wiped out a Morelli turf on the east side. Took them completely by surprise. The entire operation is gone.”
I sat up straighter, surprised. “Which gang?”
“The Serpents,” Kai said. “They moved fast and hit hard. The Morellis never saw it coming.”
Vincent leaned forward with interest. “Why would the Serpents attack the Morellis now? That seems like a risky move without coordination with us.”
I saw Kai’s jaw tighten slightly, and I knew immediately that he knew more than he was saying.
“Kai?” I pressed. “Why did they strike?”
“I don’t have all the details yet, boss,” Kai said smoothly, but I could tell he was being deliberately vague. “I’m still gathering intelligence on their reasoning.”
He was lying. Or at least withholding information. But why?
Vincent looked between us, clearly sensing the same thing. “It seems strange that they’d move independently right after the attack on our compound. Almost like they were waiting for an excuse.”
“I’ll look into it,” Kai said firmly. “But right now, we should be focused on our own response to the Morellis.”
Vincent seemed unsatisfied with that answer, but he didn’t push. After a few more minutes of discussion, he stood to leave.
“Get some rest, Vincent,” I said. “We’ll need everyone sharp for what comes next.”
“Yes, boss,” Vincent said, then paused at the door. “When are you planning to move the family to the safe house?”
“Soon,” I said. “As soon as Lorenzo confirms it’s secure.”
Vincent nodded and left, closing the door behind him.
“There’s something else,” Kai said the moment Vincent left, pulling out another envelope identical to the ones the elders had received. “Vincent was the only elder who didn’t get one of these X-marked letters.”
I frowned. “That’s suspicious.”
“Not necessarily,” Kai said. “Vincent lives here, in your compound. The Morellis probably couldn’t deliver it to him without being caught. All the other elders have their own separate homes.”
That made sense. But something about it still bothered me.
“Keep an eye on Vincent anyway,” I said. “I trust him, but we can’t be too careful right now.”
“Already on it, boss,” Kai confirmed.
We spent the next hour discussing strategy. I laid out my plan we’d move the family to the safe house first, get them secured and protected. Only then would we launch our counterstrike against the Morellis.
“We can’t fight a war while worrying about protecting civilians,” I explained. “Once Hailey, Sophia, Isabella, Barbara, and Benita are safe, we can focus entirely on destroying the Morellis.”
“What about Sophia?” Kai asked carefully. “After what she did…”
“She’s still my daughter,” I said, my voice hard. “And she’ll be protected. But she’ll also face consequences for her actions. I haven’t decided what those will be yet.”
Kai nodded, understanding.
By the time we finished planning, it was nearly dawn. I sent Kai to get some rest and sat alone in the office, staring at the X-marked envelope.
———
I must have dozed off in the chair, because the next thing I knew, pale morning light was filtering through the windows and my phone was buzzing with a text message.
I grabbed it, blinking sleep from my eyes.
It was from Lorenzo.
‘House is secure. No surveillance. Staff loyal and vetted. Place has been cleaned and restocked. Ready for occupancy.’
Relief washed over me. Finally, some good news.
But then another message came through, and my relief turned to ice.
‘Problem. Doctor who treated Hailey yesterday is missing.’