Chapter 4 - Into the Lion’s Den
The Valenti mansion became a war room within thirty minutes.
Dozens of heavy SUV’s poured through the broken gates, carrying over a hundred heavily armed Valenti soldiers dressed in tactical gear. Long Island was effectively cut off from the rest of the state. Private helicopters circled the night sky, their massive spotlights cutting through the heavy coastal fog.
Inside the grand library, Elena sat on a leather couch, clutching Mia’s left-behind stuffed rabbit, Mr. Whiskers, against her chest. Her eyes were red, her body shaking with violent, uncontrollable sobs.
Adrian walked into the room, wearing a tactical vest over his black shirt, two customized pistols holstered at his chest, and a combat knife strapped to his thigh.
He knelt down in front of Elena, taking her trembling hands in his.
"Look at me, Elena," Adrian ordered softly, but with absolute conviction.
Elena looked up into his dark, fierce eyes.
"I gave Mia a promise behind that tree three weeks ago," Adrian said, his voice softer now. "I promised her I would keep her safe. I have never broken a promise in my life, and I am not going to start today."
"They... they have her, Adrian," Elena sobbed. "Dominic Moretti is a monster! What if he—"
"Dominic wants a war," Adrian interrupted. "He took Mia because he thinks she is my weakness. He thinks she makes me fragile."
Adrian reached up, gently wiping a tear from Elena’s cheek with his gloved thumb.
"What Dominic doesn't realize," Adrian continued, "is that Mia isn't my weakness. She is my reason to destroy him completely."
Marcus rushed into the library, holding a tablet. "Boss! We traced the signal from the tracker!"
Adrian stood up instantly. "What tracker?"
"The stuffed rabbit," Marcus grinned despite the tension. "Three days ago, after Renata was fired, you ordered us to install a microscopic GPS transponder inside the lining of Mia’s toy rabbit, Mr. Whiskers. The signal just pinged!"
Elena looked at the plush rabbit in her hands, confused. Then she noticed a small tear near the seam—and realized that Mia had two identical plush rabbits. She was holding the spare one. The original Mr. Whiskers was currently in Mia’s tiny hands inside the kidnappers' vehicle!
"Where is she?" Adrian demanded.
"An abandoned chemical processing plant near the docks in Newark, New Jersey," Marcus reported. "It’s heavy Moretti territory. They have at least forty armed men guarding the perimeter."
"Then bring eighty," Adrian commanded, turning toward the door. "And call the Federal Prosecutor. Tell him to get ready to seize every asset owned by the Moretti family by sunrise."
"Adrian! Wait!" Elena cried out, standing up and catching his arm. "Take me with you! Please!"
"Elena, it's too dangerous—"
"She's my daughter!" Elena pleaded, her eyes flashing with a mother’s fierce, unstoppable courage. "I won't sit in this empty house waiting for a phone call! I'm coming with you!"
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Adrian stared at her for three long seconds. He saw the same fiery determination in Elena that he had seen in little Mia behind the maple tree.
"Get her a bulletproof vest," Adrian commanded Marcus. "She stays in the primary command vehicle with you until the facility is clear."
