Chapter 189 Hostage Warranty

Chapter 189 Hostage Warranty
For several seconds, Don Roman Moretti didn't breathe.
Don Russo stared at him, and could swear it was the first time he had seen Don Roman panic.
The guard continued quickly.
"They're both inside the vehicle with Viktor."
Don Roman's eyes widened.
"Aurelia..."
The word escaped his lips.
She was supposed to be safe.
She was supposed to be nowhere near the war.
He had deliberately stayed away from her.
He had refused to call her because he feared his enemies could trace the connection.
He had convinced himself that keeping her hidden was protecting her.
And now, she was sitting inside a vehicle with Viktor.
At his gate.
In the middle of his war.
How come?
Don Roman's expression turned murderous.
"How?"
The guard shook his head.
"We don't know."
Don Roman looked toward the entrance.
"How did Viktor get her?"
"We don't know, Don."
Don Roman's jaw clenched.
There's no way Viktor could have discovered the safe house.
Then another thought struck him.
Aurelia hadn't simply been captured.
She had escaped the safe house.
But why?
Did something happen?
Had she come looking for him?
Or maybe she grew worried because he hadn't contacted her.
And now she had somehow ended up in Viktor's hands.
Don Roman's fists tightened.
"Open the gate."
The guard immediately nodded.
"Don Roman—"
"Open."
"But Viktor—"
"I said open the gate."
The guard turned to leave.
Don Roman's voice stopped him.
"Nobody fires."
The guard looked back.
"Nobody touches Viktor until I give the order."
Don Roman's eyes were fixed on the gate.
"But keep every weapon ready."
The guard nodded.
"Yes, Don."
He hurried away.
Don Roman remained standing.
Don Russo watched him carefully.
"Roman..."
Don Roman didn't respond.
His entire focus was on the entrance.
Aurelia was there.
His Aurelia.
And Viktor had brought her directly to him.
Don Russo slowly lowered his head.
He understood immediately.
Whatever punishment Don Roman had intended to give him could wait.
Because Viktor had just walked back into the lion's den.
And this time, he had brought the one person capable of making the Butcher lose control.
Don Roman slowly reached for his gun.
His face became cold.
"Viktor..."
He whispered.
"You made the biggest mistake of your life."

\---

Outside, the massive gates of the Russo estate began to open.
And beyond them, a black vehicle waited.
Inside it sat Viktor, Nico, and Aurelia.
Viktor kept his eyes fixed on the massive gates as they slowly opened.
The black vehicle remained motionless.
Inside, Nico sat rigidly behind the steering wheel.
Aurelia was beside him.
Neither spoke.
The tension inside the vehicle was suffocating.
Then Viktor finally raised his gun.
"Nico."
Nico glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
"Step out."
Nico didn't move.
Viktor's eyes narrowed.
"Now."
Nico slowly opened the driver's door and stepped outside.
He raised his hands slightly.
Viktor followed immediately.
But he didn't step away from Aurelia.
Instead, he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the vehicle.
His gun remained pressed against the side of her head.
Aurelia gasped.
"Move."
She obeyed.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she felt the cold metal of the weapon against her skin.
Her entire body trembled.
"Don't try anything," Viktor warned.
Nico stared at him.
"Leave her alone."
Viktor laughed.
"You've already forgotten who's in control?"
He pushed the gun harder against Aurelia's head.
Nico immediately stopped moving.
"Good."
Viktor glanced toward the gate.
Several Moretti guards stood on the other side, weapons raised but pointed toward the ground.
They were watching carefully.
Viktor turned his attention back to Nico.
"Hands behind your back."
Nico frowned.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Nico slowly placed his hands behind him.
Viktor looked at Aurelia.
"You're going to tie him."
Aurelia stared at him.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Viktor pulled a zip tie from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Put it around his wrists."
Aurelia looked at Nico.
He gave her a barely noticeable nod.
She stepped toward him.
Her hands shook as she wrapped the zip tie around his wrists.
She pulled it tight.
Viktor watched every movement.
"Good."
Nico tested the restraint.
It was secure.
Viktor then grabbed Aurelia's arm again and pulled her back against him.
His gun remained beside her head.
"Nobody move."
The Moretti guards remained still.
One of them stepped forward.
"Viktor."
Viktor immediately raised his voice.
"Stop right there!"
The guard froze.
"I said nobody moves."
His eyes swept across the armed men.
"I know exactly what you're capable of."
He smiled bitterly.
"But you should also know what I'm capable of."
He pressed the gun against Aurelia again.
"One wrong move and she dies."
Aurelia closed her eyes briefly.
Her heart was pounding.
But her thoughts weren't on herself.
They were on Roman.
What will he think?
She knew exactly what it looked like.
She had escaped the safe house.
She had disappeared without telling anyone.
And now she was standing at the gates of the Russo estate with Viktor's gun against her head.
Don Roman would think she had been reckless.
He would think she had endangered herself.
He would think she had disobeyed him.
And perhaps worse, he would be disappointed in her.
Aurelia swallowed.
She didn't want to see that look in his eyes.
She had only wanted to find him.
She had wanted to tell him about the baby.
She had wanted to know that he was safe.
Instead, she had walked straight into another nightmare.
Viktor looked toward the guards.
"Go tell Roman something."
The nearest guard remained silent.
"What?"
"Tell him I want him outside."
The guard frowned.
"Don Roman is inside, and wants you to come in."
"I know."
Viktor smiled.
"But go tell him I want him outside."
The guard glanced at Aurelia.
Then at Nico.
Then back at Viktor.
"You expect Don Roman to walk out here?"
Viktor's expression hardened.
"He will."
"And if he doesn't?"
Viktor leaned closer to Aurelia.
"Then things get messy."
Aurelia's breath caught.
The guard immediately understood.
He turned and hurried through the gates.
Viktor watched him disappear.
Then he looked at Nico.
"You made a mistake coming here."
Nico remained silent.
Viktor smiled.
"You thought you could use Aurelia to get Bianca."
Nico's expression changed.
"Not in the way you're using her."
Viktor chuckled.
"You're not different from me, Nico."
"Remember it is what you started that got us here."
Nico swallowed.
Viktor was right.
He started this war when he chose to betray Don Roman.
But now people have lost their lives.
Even Bianca.
He lowered his head in disappointment.
Maybe he deserved to die too.
It will only be fair, since he started this madness.
"You should be on my side, Nico."
Viktor continued.
"Roman is no friend of yours, neither is he your father, and he made sure you didn't meet your real father."
Aurelia's eyes widened at the Viktor's words, a lot had happened that she didn't know of.
"And now he has also killed Bianca..."
Nico's jaw tightened at the mention of Bianca.
"What more do you need to join me?"