Chapter 191 Final Confrontation

Chapter 191 Final Confrontation
Don Roman Moretti looked toward the entrance quietly, as he thought deeply on what Viktor's plan could be.
For a few seconds, none of them said anything.
Don Russo watched him carefully.
Don Roman's mind was racing.
Viktor was using Aurelia as a shield.
He wanted Don Roman angry.
He wanted him emotional.
He wanted him to make a mistake.
But Don Roman Moretti had survived too many wars to allow rage to dictate his actions.
Still, Aurelia was outside.
And every second she remained beside Viktor increased the danger.
Don Roman slowly reached for his weapon.
Don Russo spoke.
"Roman."
Don Roman stopped.
"You can't let him provoke you."
Don Roman looked at him.
"Suddenly, Vincenzo Russo is on my side."
Don Russo sighed.
"You saved my daughter, I owe you my life."
"It's yours for the taking."
Don Roman nodded.
His eyes returned to the doors.
He could almost imagine Aurelia standing outside.
Frightened.
Confused.
Wondering why he hadn't come to her yet.
Don Roman's chest tightened.
He had promised himself nobody would ever hurt her.
Not Viktor.
Not Russo.
Not anyone.
He turned toward his guards.
"I'm going outside."
The men nodded, and pulled out their guns.
Don Roman added.
"I'm going alone."
His men looked at him with surprise.
But Don Roman ignored them, and started toward the entrance.
Don Russo watched him.
"You're going alone?"
Don Roman stopped, and then looked over his shoulder.
"I'm going to give Viktor exactly what he wants."
His eyes became cold.
"An audience."
Don Russo swallowed as he watched Don Roman walk towards the door.
"You're going to let Viktor have his way?"
Don Roman's eyes met his.
"No."
His answer was immediate.
"But I'm not going to give him a reason to pull that trigger either."
He turned toward the doorway.
One of the guards opened it.
Don Roman stopped for a moment.
His hand instinctively moved toward the gun beneath his jacket.
Then he removed it.
He placed it on the desk.
Then his second weapon.
Then the knife hidden beneath his jacket.
He was leaving everything behind.
He wasn't going to risk Aurelia's life.
Not because he trusted Viktor.
But because he knew exactly what Viktor can do.
He also knew exactly what Viktor wanted.
A reaction.
Fear.
Anger.
Panic.
And Don Roman would give him none of it.
He looked once more toward the entrance.
"Aurelia..."
He whispered under his breath.
"Hold on."
Then he walked toward the doors.
Every step brought him closer to Aurelia.
Closer to Viktor.
Closer to the final confrontation.

\---

Viktor gestured toward the estate.
"I'm standing at the gates of Roman's empire."
"With his mistress, and his son."
Nico's eyes hardened.
"Don't call me that."
Viktor laughed.
"Why?"
"You are nobody without the Moretti name."
Nico didn't answer.
"Just a poor orphan."
Viktor's eyes shifted toward Aurelia.
"And she..."
His smile became darker.
"...is Roman's weakness."
Aurelia looked down.
She didn't want to hear it.
She didn't want to be anyone's weakness.
She wanted to be Roman's partner.
His equal.
The woman who stood beside him.
Not the hostage Viktor could use against him.
She gently placed one hand over her stomach.
The movement was small.
But Viktor noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"You keep touching your stomach, why?"
Aurelia immediately dropped her hand.
"Nothing."
Viktor studied her.
Then smiled.
"Is there something you are hiding?"
Aurelia's heart sank.
She knew she couldn't let Viktor discover her pregnancy.
Not yet.
Not when he was already holding her life in his hands.
And not before Roman.

Aurelia suddenly heard the large doors opening in the distance.
Her heart began pounding harder.
She knew that sound.
Don Roman was coming.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She didn't know whether he would be angry.
Disappointed.
Furious.
Or simply relieved to see her alive.
But one thing was certain.
After everything she had gone through to find him, she was finally about to stand face-to-face with the man she had risked everything to see.
But definitely not in the circumstances she had expected.

The moment Don Roman stepped into the corridor, his men straightened.
Every soldier knew what was happening.
Their Don was walking into the hands of his greatest enemy.
And he was doing it unarmed.
Don Roman continued toward the entrance without slowing.
The massive gates stood ahead.
Beyond them was Viktor.
Beyond Viktor was Aurelia.
And somewhere in the middle stood Nico.
Don Roman's expression remained unreadable.
But inside his chest, his heart was pounding.
Viktor may think he had the upper hand with Aurelia as his hostage.
But he had no idea the extent Roman could go for her.
The gates opened wider. Don Roman stepped forward.
Outside, Viktor immediately saw him.
His smile slowly appeared.
Aurelia's eyes widened.
Their gazes met across the distance.
For a moment, the entire world seemed to disappear.
Don Roman saw the fear in her eyes.
He saw the tears threatening to fall.
And then his gaze moved briefly to Nico standing beside her, with his hands bound behind his back.
Then quickly he looked again at Aurelia.
Something about the way Aurelia held herself made his heart tighten.
Viktor noticed their exchange.
And smiled.
"Don Roman..."
Don Roman stopped several feet away.
His eyes never left Aurelia.
Then he finally looked at Viktor.
"Let her go."
Viktor laughed.
"That's your first request?"
Don Roman's expression didn't change.
"No."
His voice was dangerously calm.
"That's your only warning."
Viktor's smile faded.
The standoff had begun.