Chapter 7 - The Hostage Exchange
My breath completely vanished from my lungs as I stared at the horrifying scene unfolding on the porch.
Marco, the man who had supposedly helped us escape the hospital, was actually holding my sister hostage.
"I am so sorry, Serena, but I have been working for your father this entire time," Marco shouted across the lawn.
The absolute betrayal stung violently, twisting like a cold, jagged knife deep in my gut.
He had orchestrated our entire escape just to deliver me directly into Don Carlo's waiting hands.
Marco tightened his violent grip on Elena's hair, forcing her to her knees on the cold stone steps.
"Don Carlo wants his grandson back, and he wants Lucian completely dead," Marco announced loudly.
He demanded that Lucian walk out into the open and surrender himself, or Elena would die instantly.
Lucian leaned heavily against the stone pillar, dark red blood soaking entirely through his ruined suit jacket.
He looked at me with an expression of profound, completely undeniable love.
"I told you I was trying to leave this life to protect you, and I meant every single word," Lucian whispered softly.
He reached out and gently stroked his newborn son's cheek for the very first time.
"You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Serena, and I will not let your sister die for my mistakes."
I grabbed his arm tightly, tears streaming freely down my dirty, exhausted face.
"Do not do this, Lucian, they will slaughter you the exact second you step out there," I pleaded desperately.
He kissed my forehead with a fierce, heartbreaking tenderness that completely shattered my soul.
"I love you, and I always will," he promised softly.
Lucian threw his heavy assault rifle onto the grass and slowly stepped out from behind the protective stone pillar.
He raised his empty hands high in the air, walking calmly and bravely toward the heavily armed traitor.
Marco smiled with a sickening, victorious arrogance, slowly shifting his weapon away from Elena's head.
He aimed the lethal barrel directly at Lucian's chest, absolutely ready to execute the most powerful boss in New York.
"Any last words before I take your empire, Lucian?" Marco mocked cruelly.
May you like
Lucian simply smiled, a dark, terrifying smirk that completely unnerved the arrogant traitor.
"You really should have checked the tree line before you started giving orders, Marco," Lucian replied confidently.
