Chapter 2 - The Traitor Revealed
Elias did not lower his heavy weapon.
He recognized the calm voice pressing the gun to his head immediately.
It was Rourke Delaney, his most trusted family adviser.
"What exactly are you doing here, Rourke?" Elias asked coldly without turning around.
"I came to protect you from the leak," Rourke replied smoothly.
Rourke slowly lowered his gun and stepped directly beside his boss.
Elias kept his cold eyes locked entirely on the three thugs standing over Adeline and Leo.
The thugs suddenly noticed the two men in expensive suits standing in the doorway.
"This does not concern you, rich boys," the gang leader spat aggressively.
Elias did not say a single word in response to the threat.
He simply raised his pistol and shot the leader squarely in the kneecap.
The massive man screamed in blinding agony and collapsed instantly onto the cheap carpet.
The other two thugs dropped their weapons in absolute terror and raised their hands high.
"Drag him out of here and tell Cormac that Elias Baron claims this territory," Elias commanded darkly.
The terrified men grabbed their bleeding leader and scrambled frantically down the dark stairwell.
Elias finally holstered his weapon and stepped fully into the small apartment.
Adeline was trembling violently while clutching her terrified son to her chest.
She looked up and realized the man who just saved them was her terrifying billionaire boss.
"Mr. Baron, I am so incredibly sorry for taking the food," she sobbed uncontrollably.
Elias gently knelt beside the broken bed and placed a hand on her trembling shoulder.
"You never have to apologize to me again, Adeline," he said softly.
He looked directly at the photograph of Thomas sitting proudly on the dresser.
"Your husband died so that I could live, and I have spent years looking for you."
He promised them that they would never have to sleep in a freezing room or go hungry again.
Rourke stood in the doorway, watching the emotional scene with cold, calculating eyes.
"We need to move them to a secure location before Cormac retaliates for this," Rourke suggested calmly.
Elias agreed completely and helped Leo stand up from the mattress.
They quietly escorted the mother and son down to the armored sedan waiting on the dark street.
Adeline sat in the back seat with Leo, holding his uninjured hand incredibly tightly.
Rourke slid into the passenger seat while Elias drove them safely toward a hidden safe house outside the city.
The ride was completely silent until Rourke turned around to offer Adeline a cold bottle of water.
"It is going to be okay now, Mrs. Hayes," Rourke said in a seemingly comforting tone.
Adeline froze completely, her eyes widening in absolute horror as she stared at the adviser's face.
May you like
She leaned forward rapidly and whispered frantically into Elias's ear.
"That is the man who called the thugs to my apartment ten minutes before you arrived."
