Chapter 9 - The Final Strike
Two weeks before the wedding, a final shadow attempted to stretch its fingers from the grave.
It was a rainy Tuesday night. Adeline was in the estate's private library, reviewing the guest list for the wedding reception. Wes was upstairs asleep in his new bedroom, guarded by two loyal enforcers.
A sudden power surge flickered through the estate. The chandelier dimmed, then died completely, plunging the grand room into darkness.
Adeline stood up instantly, her hand dropping to the small, concealed holster beneath her blazer—a gift and lesson from Nico.
The heavy library doors creaked open.
A man slipped into the room, silhouetted against the stormy night outside. He wore a dark raincoat and held a suppressed pistol in his grip.
"Adeline Marsh," a raspy, unfamiliar voice growled from the dark. "Camille Ashcroft sends her regards from her cell."
It was a hired hitman—a leftover loyalist from Reuben's old street crew who had managed to bypass the outer perimeter during the storm.
"Camille is wasting her money," Adeline said calmly, stepping behind the heavy mahogany desk. "She should have saved it for her appeal."
The assassin raised his gun. "She paid five hundred grand to make sure you don't make it to the altar."
Before the gunman could pull the trigger, the heavy double doors behind him slammed open with concussive force.
Nico stood in the doorway. He was not using his cane. He held a heavy tactical shotgun raised straight at the assassin's chest.
"You picked the wrong house, friend," Nico said coldly.
BOOM!
The non-lethal beanbag round struck the assassin square in the chest, sending him flying backward through the air and crashing hard into a glass display case. The man groaned, dropping his weapon, gasping for air as three Alfieri enforcers rushed into the room, pinning him to the floor in seconds.
Nico racking the shotgun with a sharp CLACK-CLACK, handing it to his head of security.
He walked over to Adeline with long, fast strides, grabbing her face in his hands, checking her for any injury. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine," Adeline smiled softly, leaning into his warm touch. "I was just about to shoot him myself."
Nico let out a dark laugh, pulling her into a tight embrace. "God, I love you."
He turned to his head of security. "Call the District Attorney. Tell him Camille Ashcroft just added attempted murder charges to her thirty-year sentence. Make sure she spends the rest of her life in solitary confinement."
"Yes, Don Alfieri," the guard replied, dragging the groaning assassin out into the corridor.
May you like
Nico looked back down at Adeline, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "No more interruptions. No more enemies. In two weeks, you become my wife."
Adeline looked up into his eyes, holding his face in her hands. "I can't wait."
