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Chapter 4 - The War at the GateThe rain outside swept across the iron gates of the Moretti estate in violent sheets. Four black luxury SUVs sat idling at the entrance, their headlights cutting through the darkness. Standing in front of the gate was Arthur Vance—a silver-haired, ruthless billionaire—flanked by Police Chief Miller and six uniformed officers.

The heavy iron gates swung open smoothly, and a single black sedan pulled up.

Luca Moretti stepped out into the rain. He didn't carry an umbrella. He didn't have a weapon drawn. He walked forward with the effortless, terrifying grace of an apex predator inspecting trespassers on his territory.

Behind him, fifty silent, heavy-armed Moretti guards stepped out from the estate's tree line, their automatic weapons held at low ready.

Arthur Vance stepped forward, his face red with rage. "Moretti! You have five minutes to release my daughter, or Chief Miller here will execute a federal search warrant on this property!"

Chief Miller looked extremely uncomfortable, sweating profusely despite the cold rain. He knew better than anyone that Luca Moretti owned half the judges in the state.

Luca stopped three feet from Arthur. He pulled out a sleek silver cigarette case, lit a cigarette, and took a slow drag, letting the gray smoke curl into the rainy air.

"Your daughter," Luca said, his voice smooth as silk, "committed attempted extortion, physical assault, and elder abuse on my mother."

Arthur sneered. "She slapped an old, senile woman! Don't act like you care about morals, Luca! You're a mobster! Vivian is my heir, and we had an alliance!"

The moment the words 'senile woman' left Arthur's mouth, the temperature at the gate dropped to absolute zero.

Luca took the cigarette from his mouth and flicked it casually onto the hood of Arthur’s SUV.

In a movement so fast the police officers didn't even have time to react, Luca reached out, grabbed Arthur by his silk tie, and slammed the billionaire's face hard against the bulletproof glass of his own vehicle window.

"Luca! No!" Chief Miller shouted, drawing his sidearm, but forty red laser dots instantly appeared on Chief Miller’s chest from the snipers hidden in the trees. The chief froze, his hand shaking uncontrollably.

Luca leaned into Arthur’s ear, his voice a lethal whisper that cut deeper than a razor.

"Listen to me very carefully, Arthur," Luca murmured. "Your daughter put her hands on my mother. She tried to steal her dignity. The only reason Vivian is still breathing in my basement right now is because my mother’s caregiver asked me not to stain the house with blood tonight."

Arthur gasped for air, terror replacing his anger. "Luca... please..."

"Your shipping contracts are gone," Luca continued coldly. "Your offshore accounts in Zurich were frozen thirty minutes ago by my banking proxies. By tomorrow morning, the Vance empire will be bankrupt, and your daughter will be formally charged with attempted murder."

Luca let go of his tie, letting Arthur slump against the car door. He turned his gaze toward Chief Miller.

"Chief," Luca said smoothly. "Take this garbage off my driveway before I decide to hold you as an accomplice."

Chief Miller didn't hesitate. "Retreat! All units, fall back now!"

Within two minutes, the red taillights of the Vance convoy vanished into the stormy night.

Luca stood in the rain, adjusting his cuffs, his mind drifting back to the quiet music room upstairs—to the brave girl with brown eyes who had stood up to a monster just to protect his mother.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Marco.

"Boss?" Marco answered.

"Contact our tailor in Milan," Luca ordered as he walked back toward the estate. "I need a complete wardobe designed for Miss Carter. High-end, formal, bullet-proof lined."

Marco hesitated on the line. "Boss... bullet-proof lined? Are you taking her to the Annual Syndicate Gala next week?"

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Luca stopped at the front steps, looking up at the warm light glowing from his mother’s third-floor window.

"No, Marco," Luca said, his voice ringing with absolute, terrifying authority. "I'm introducing her to the city as my new bride."

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