Chapter 3 - The Blood Bargain
The kitchen was suffocatingly silent as Don Falcone’s silver revolver gleamed under the flickering fluorescent lights.
I froze completely, my heart hammering against my ribs so violently I thought little Leo would wake up.
Lorenzo immediately stepped in front of me, using his own bleeding body as a human shield to protect us.
"Your fight is with me, Falcone, so let the woman and the baby walk away," Lorenzo demanded with cold, unwavering authority.
Falcone chuckled dryly, stepping over the fallen bodies of Lorenzo’s guards with chilling elegance.
"You took my territory last year, Lorenzo, so tonight I am taking your entire bloodline," the rival boss replied.
I tightened my grip on Leo, knowing this ruthless man had absolutely no intention of leaving any survivors.
Suddenly, Marcus pushed his way to the front of the masked men, carrying a bloody crowbar.
He had tracked us down through the mansion, eager to claim whatever bounty Falcone had promised him.
"That woman belongs to me, Falcone," Marcus snarled, pointing his weaponized crowbar at my trembling figure.
"She owes me fifty thousand dollars, and her life is the only collateral I have left."
Falcone looked at Marcus with a mixture of amusement and utter disgust.
"I bought your pathetic debt, Marcus, which means you work for me now," Falcone stated coldly.
Before Marcus could argue, Falcone shot him a deadly glare that instantly silenced the violent thug.
I knew I had to do something incredibly desperate, or Lorenzo and Leo were going to die right in front of me.
"The baby is already dying, Don Falcone," I lied, stepping slightly out from behind Lorenzo's protective stance.
Lorenzo shot me a look of pure confusion, but I desperately prayed he would play along with my bluff.
"I poisoned the child's milk weeks ago to pay off Marcus's debt," I declared, my voice echoing loudly in the silent kitchen.
Falcone raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the unexpected confession of a lowly maid.
"Why would I waste bullets on a dying infant when nature is already doing my job?" I asked, feigning absolute, cold indifference.
Falcone slowly lowered his silver revolver, motioning for one of his masked guards to approach us.
"Bring the child here so I can see the poison in his eyes for myself," Falcone ordered.
My stomach completely plummeted into an abyss of panic.
Leo was no longer starving or dying, because my milk had brought the color rushing beautifully back into his tiny cheeks.
If Falcone looked at the baby, he would instantly realize I was lying to save Lorenzo's life.
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The masked guard reached out to rip Leo from my arms, his rough hands grabbing my shoulder.
Without a second of hesitation, Lorenzo pulled a hidden combat knife from his boot and drove it directly into the guard's neck.
