Chapter 190 The Ultimatum

Chapter 190 The Ultimatum
Don Roman Moretti stood motionless in the study.
For several seconds, he simply stared toward the open doorway.
Aurelia was outside.
Viktor had her.
And every instinct in his body was screaming at him to storm through the gates and tear Viktor apart with his bare hands.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
He needed to know exactly what had happened.
How had Aurelia gotten there?
How had Viktor found her?
And why hadn't anyone at the safe house stopped her?
Or even informed him?
Don Roman suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
His fingers moved quickly across the screen.
He dialed the number of the safe house.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Finally, someone answered.
"Good morning, Don?"
Don Roman immediately recognized the voice of one of the guards.
"Where is Aurelia?"
Silence.
Don Roman's eyes narrowed.
"I asked you a question."
The guard swallowed.
"Don..."
"Put Aurelia on the phone."
Another silence.
Don Roman's grip tightened around the phone.
"Now."
"Don Roman..."
Something in the guard's voice changed.
There was fear.
Hesitation.
And guilt.
Don Roman's expression hardened.
"Where is she?"
The guard took a shaky breath.
"We're searching for her."
Don Roman froze.
"What?"
"We woke up this morning and she was gone."
Don Roman's jaw tightened.
"What do you mean she was gone?"
"We don't know how she escaped, Don. We searched the entire safe house. We searched the surrounding area. We've sent men out looking for her."
Don Roman's eyes slowly darkened.
"You lost her?"
"Don, we—"
"You lost Aurelia?"
His voice thundered through the room.
The guard immediately went silent.
Don Roman's breathing became heavier.
"How many men were guarding that house?"
"Don Roman, we had—"
"I don't care!"
His fist slammed against the desk.
The sound made everyone in the room jump.
"You were given one job."
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"One."
"Keep her safe."
"Keep her hidden."
"And you couldn't even do that."
"Don, we will find her."
"You will find her?"
Don Roman laughed bitterly.
"You should have found her before she ended up in Viktor's hands."
The guard went completely silent.
Don Roman's eyes burned with fury.
"Do you understand what you've done?"
"Yes, Don."
"No."
Don Roman's voice shook with barely contained rage.
"You don't."
He looked toward the windows.
Beyond them was the entrance where Viktor was waiting.
And somewhere outside those gates was Aurelia.
His Aurelia.
"Because of your carelessness, the woman I was trying to protect is standing outside this estate with a gun against her head."
The guard's breath caught.
"Don Roman..."
"If anything happens to her..."
Don Roman paused.
His voice became terrifyingly calm.
"...death will be the least of what you will wish for yourselves."
The guard immediately began pleading.
"Please, Don. We didn't know she would—"
Don Roman hung up.
He didn't want to hear another word.
He slowly lowered the phone.
His chest rose and fell.
For months, he had built walls around Aurelia.
He had hidden her.
Moved her.
Placed guards around her.
Kept enemies away from her.
And now, despite everything, she was standing outside his gates with Viktor.
His greatest fear had happened.
The door suddenly opened.
Two Moretti guards hurried inside.
Don Roman turned sharply.
One of them immediately bowed his head.
"Don Roman."
"What?"
"The man outside..."
"Viktor?"
"Yes."
Don Roman's expression hardened.
"What does he want?"
The guard swallowed.
"He refuses to come inside."
Don Roman's eyes narrowed.
"Then what is he doing outside my gates?"
"He wants you to come out."
A cold silence filled the room.
"Come out?"
The guard nodded.
"He said he wants you to meet him outside."
Don Roman stared at him.
"Anything else?"
"He wants you to come unarmed."
Don Roman almost smiled.
Almost.
"Unarmed."
"Yes, Don."
The second guard quickly added,
"He said if you don't come out, things will get messy."
Don Roman's eyes turned murderous.
He knew exactly what Viktor meant.
Aurelia.
His leverage.
His only leverage.
Don Roman slowly walked around the desk.
Then he shook his head.
"How is Aurelia?"
"Held at gun point."
Don Roman looked toward the doors.
His eyes became cold again.
"Is Nico with Viktor, or are both his hostages?"
The guard hesitated.
"I can't really say."
Don Roman's jaw tightened.
"Is she hurt?"
"We don't know."
That answer was enough to make Don Roman's blood boil.
"Get the physician ready."
The guard looked surprised.
"For what?"
"For Aurelia."
Don Roman's voice was firm.
"I don't care whether Viktor allows her inside willingly or whether my men have to carry her inside."
He looked toward the entrance.
"But when this is over, she is getting examined immediately."
"Yes, Don."
The guard turned to leave.
"Wait."
The man stopped.
Don Roman looked at both guards.
"Tell every soldier at the gate to still keep their weapons lowered."
They nodded.
"Nobody fires."
"But Viktor is armed..."
"I said nobody fires."
Don Roman's voice left no room for argument.
"If one of my men fires without my command, I will deal with him myself."
"Understood."
The guards nodded.
Don Roman then looked toward Don Russo.
The old Mafia boss was still kneeling with his hands bound.
His face was exhausted.
But his eyes were fixed on Don Roman.
"You're going out there."
It wasn't a question.
Don Roman nodded.
"I am."
Don Russo frowned.
"Unarmed?"
Don Roman looked at him.
"Viktor thinks he has the advantage."
A faint, humorless smile touched his lips.
"He doesn't."
Don Russo stared at him.
"Roman... I know you care about Aurelia, but this might not be a smart move."
Don Roman stepped closer.
"Your daughter is alive because I chose to save her."
Don Russo's eyes lowered.
"I know."
"And Viktor knows exactly what Aurelia means to me."
Don Roman's expression hardened.
"He believes that makes me weak."
He glanced toward the entrance.
"He's about to learn the difference between loving someone..."
He paused.
"...and being willing to die for them.