The Nurse Who Broke the Mafia Boss’s One Rule—Then Discovered Someone in His Own House Was Killing Him

A hail of bullets tore through the grand foyer, shattering marble statues and plaster walls.

Vincent slammed his arm around my waist, pulling me behind a massive steel-reinforced pillar just as the marble beside us exploded into dust.

"Marcus! Flank the balcony!" Vincent shouted over the deafening roar of gunfire.

"I'm on it!" Marcus yelled, leading four loyal guards up the service stairwell to cut off Moretti’s men from behind.

Vincent leaned out from behind the pillar, firing four rapid, deadly shots with military precision. Two of Moretti's shooters tumbled over the velvet railing of the balcony, crashing onto the marble floor below.

"Megan, listen to me," Vincent said, turning to me amidst the chaos, his hands framing my face. "The basement panic room has a direct tunnel to the guest house. I need you to take the back stairs and go."

"No!" I yelled back, holding onto his jacket. "I'm not leaving you!"

"Megan—"

"You're fully recovered, but your heart muscle is still healing from six months of thallium damage!" I shouted, pointing at his chest. "If your blood pressure spikes too high, you could suffer an aneurysm! You need me!"

Vincent stared at me for a split second, a fierce, brilliant light flashing in his eyes.

"You really are insane," he growled affectionately. "Fine. Stay close!"

Suddenly, a flashbang grenade bounced across the floor, exploding in a blinding white light and a deafening shockwave.

The blast threw us backward. I hit the floor hard, my ears ringing, my vision swimming in white spots.

Through the haze, I saw Julian jumping down from the mezzanine stairs, his gun raised, sprinting straight toward me.

"Got you!" Julian screamed, reaching down to grab my hair.

I didn't hesitate. I rolled onto my back, raised the compact pistol Vincent had given me, and squeezed the trigger.

BANG!

The bullet struck Julian directly in the knee.

He shrieked in agony, dropping his weapon and collapsing onto the floor right in front of me, clutching his shattered leg.

"You... you shot me!" Julian screamed, blood soaking through his pants.

"I told you I know anatomy," I gasped, scrambling backward and grabbing his dropped submachine gun.

Before Julian could pull a backup knife, a heavy leather boot slammed into his chest, pinning him to the floor.

Vincent stood over his younger brother like an ancient god of war. His face was covered in dust and gunpowder, his dark eyes burning with absolute, uncompromising lethargy for enemies.

Up on the balcony, the gunfire suddenly stopped. Marcus and the loyal Vale security team appeared at the railing, holding Moretti and his remaining men at gunpoint.

"Balcony secured, Boss!" Marcus called down. "Moretti is in cuffs!"

The war was over.

Vincent looked down at Julian, who was weeping and shivering on the floor beneath his boot.

"Please, Vincent!" Julian sobbed, clutching his bleeding knee. "I'm your brother! Blood! We share the same blood!"

Vincent slowly leaned down, pulling Julian up by his tactical vest until their faces were inches apart.

"Blood made us family, Julian," Vincent whispered, his voice dangerously soft. "Loyalty makes us brothers. You traded both for cheap greed."

Vincent raised his fist and struck Julian across the jaw, knocking him out cold.

Vincent dropped his brother's unconscious body onto the marble floor, then turned to look at me.

I was leaning against the pillar, holding the heavy submachine gun, covered in plaster dust, breathing heavily.

Vincent walked over to me. He took the weapon from my trembling hands, tossed it aside, and pulled me violently into his arms, crushing me against his chest.

"Are you hurt?" he rasped, his lips pressing against my hairline, my forehead, my cheeks. "Tell me you're okay."

"I'm okay," I sobbed, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, smelling the scent of cedar, gunpowder, and his skin. "I'm okay, Vincent."