Chapter 84: The Adams Family
Early morning, Waldorf Hotel, Presidential Suite.
Sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows onto the messy bed.
After last night's wild passion in the Rolls-Royce, Leo had brought Sophia back here.
Leo leaned against the headboard, his muscular upper body half-bare.
Sophia was wrapped only in a thin silk sheet, her smooth shoulders and long, shapely legs peeking out.
Last night's intensity had left her body aching and weak; even lifting a finger took effort.
But those deep blue eyes were filled with satisfaction and happiness.
She lay like a lazy, elegant Persian cat, draped across Leo's solid chest, her golden hair cascading over him like a waterfall.
Her skin still bore faint red marks from last night's passion.
Who would have thought that the cold queen known as the "Black Rose of New York," who commanded respect on Wall Street, could look so tender and docile in this man's arms?
"Awake?"
Leo opened his eyes and looked down at the woman in his embrace.
"Mm..."
Sophia nuzzled against his chest, her voice carrying the lazy sweetness of just waking up.
"Don't want to get up... let me lie here a bit longer..."
She traced circles on Leo's firm chest with her slender fingers.
This woman, who dominated the business world with her cold elegance, was now acting like a cuddly kitten.
Leo chuckled softly and ruffled her hair.
"If you don't get up soon, you'll be late for your meeting."
"Not going..."
Sophia said playfully, "Cancel all meetings today. I just want to be with you."
With that, she propped herself up and knelt beside Leo.
The thin sheet slipped down, revealing expanses of skin.
But Sophia didn't care. Instead, she reached for Leo's shirt on the nightstand.
"Let me help you dress."
She said softly, her eyes full of tenderness.
This woman, who had shown such wild abandon before him last night, was now so gentle it was heartbreaking.
She knelt on the bed, carefully helping Leo into his shirt, her slender fingers buttoning it up one by one.
Her movements were gentle and focused, as if handling the most precious treasure in the world.
"Sophia."
Leo watched her concentrated expression and suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
Sophia looked up, her blue eyes clear as water.
"Don't you regret it?"
Leo asked, "Giving yourself, giving your entire family, to me."
Sophia paused, then smiled.
That smile was tender enough to melt hearts.
"Regret?"
She reached out and gently caressed Leo's chiseled face.
"Leo, you know what? Since I was eighteen and decided to take over the family, I've been fighting."
"Fighting those old guys who look down on women, fighting the Drake family, fighting all of New York high society..."
"I turned myself into a block of ice, not daring to show weakness, not daring to depend on anyone."
"Because I knew that in this world, only I could protect the Vanderbilt family."
She paused, a glimmer of tears in her eyes.
"But then you appeared."
"You saved my brother, helped me reclaim the family, avenged me..."
"You let me know for the first time..."
Sophia leaned down, her forehead touching Leo's.
"What it feels like to be protected."
"So..."
She pressed a gentle kiss on Leo's lips.
"I don't regret it."
"For the rest of my life, I belong only to you."
Leo looked into her sincere eyes, warmth flooding his heart.
He reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
"Good."
Sophia nestled in his arms, a happy smile on her lips.
This New York queen, who was always cold and proud in front of others, had completely become a woman in love.
...
Meanwhile.
The Adams Mansion.
In the study.
Malcolm's eyes were bloodshot, having not slept all night.
He frantically dialed his phone, his fingers trembling.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off..."
"Damn it! Damn it!"
Malcolm threw his phone hard on the floor.
He couldn't reach that mysterious "sir" anymore.
And worse still...
"Sir, something terrible has happened!"
Malcolm's trusted butler burst into the study, his face pale.
"What happened?"
Malcolm jumped to his feet.
"That... that money laundering account..."
The butler said, trembling, "It's been frozen!"
"All the funds... completely gone!"
"What?!"
Malcolm's vision went dark, nearly fainted.
Fifty million dollars!
That was the money he'd gotten from selling the goods stolen from the Vanderbilt family, ready to be laundered!
Now...
All gone?
"And..."
The butler swallowed hard, "Kirk... has also gone missing..."
"Boom!"
Malcolm's mind felt like it had been hit by a bomb.
He finally understood.
From beginning to end...
He'd been played!
That mysterious "sir," that detailed intelligence, that money laundering account...
All traps!
"Leo..."
Malcolm gritted his teeth, his whole body shaking, "It must be him! It must be him!"
"Sir, what do we do now?"
The butler asked in panic.
"Go find the family head!"
Malcolm rushed out of the study like a madman, "Only Alan can save me now!"
The mansion, main building, and reception hall.
"What did you say?!"
Alan shot to his feet, staring hard at Malcolm, kneeling on the floor.
"Fifty million dollars... all gone?"
"Alan..."
Malcolm knelt on the ground, cold sweat on his forehead, "I didn't know... I thought that account was safe..."
"Idiot! Idiot!"
Alan shook with rage, "I told you! Don't mess with Leo!"
"You wouldn't listen!"
"Now look! Fifty million dollars down the drain! And you've dragged the entire Adams family down with you!"
"Alan, I was wrong..."
Malcolm's eyes were pleading, "Please save me..."
"Save you?"
Alan sneered, "Do you know who you've provoked?"
"Leo! The Reaper who destroyed the Romano family and the Drake family!"
"What makes you think I can save you?"
Just then.
A deafening roar of engines came from the direction of the mansion gates.
Then.
"BOOM!!!"
An earth-shattering crash!
The entire main building shook violently!
"What's happening?!"
Alan's face changed drastically.
Before he could react.
A guard rushed in frantically.
"Family head! Something terrible! Someone... someone drove an armored vehicle... straight through the gate!"
"What?!"
Alan's pupils contracted sharply.
He rushed to the window and looked toward the courtyard.
The mansion's carefully crafted wrought-iron gate was now completely smashed.
An M113 military armored personnel carrier, like a steel beast, crushing the lawn, slowly drove into the estate.
The top hatch opened.
Leo, in a black trench coat, hands in his pockets, a cigar in his mouth, stood on top of the armored vehicle.
Beside him, Olivia, in a military uniform with major general insignia on her chest, expressionless.
The armored vehicle's door slowly opened.
Leo, in an immaculate black trench coat, hands in his pockets, walked down with an indifferent expression.
Olivia, in black tactical gear, eyes cold, followed at his side.
Just two people.
Single-handedly invading the Adams Group, one of New York's five great families!
Facing over a hundred guns pointed at his head, Leo didn't even blink. He calmly pulled a cigar from his pocket and leisurely put it in his mouth.
The lighter's flame flickered as Leo took a deep drag and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"Leo!"
Alan emerged from the corridor surrounded by bodyguards, suppressing his fear as he shouted, "This is the Adams Group! You're trespassing on private property..."
Leo, cigar between his fingers, glanced at him casually, a mocking smile on his lips.
He didn't speak, just tilted his head slightly, giving Olivia a look.
"Yes, sir."
Olivia looked up, scanning the surroundings.
Then...
From the rooftops of tall buildings around the estate, dozens of crimson sniper laser dots suddenly appeared!
The bodyguards' legs went weak with fear.
Dozens of snipers!
And each one locked on a vital point!
"I'll give you one chance."
Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice calm, "Drop your guns and get lost."
"Or die."
The bodyguards looked at each other.
A few seconds later.
The first bodyguard dropped his gun.
Then the second, the third...
In less than a minute.
Over a hundred bodyguards had all dropped their weapons and fled in panic.
Only Alan and Malcolm remained, along with a few core family members, standing in place.