CHAPTER 2 The Mafia Boss's Secret Triplets
CHAPTER 2: THE ENEMY'S SHADOW
Vivien did not sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the ultrasound screen.
Three tiny heartbeats.
Three lives.
Then came the gunshots.
The screaming.
The terrified shooter pointing directly at her.
"We were sent for her."
By three in the morning, she was sitting on the edge of the enormous bed staring through the dark window.
Rain tapped softly against the glass.
The Blackwood estate slept.
Or at least it appeared to.
Vivien doubted anyone in this house truly slept.
Not with armed guards walking patrol routes below.
Not with enemies hunting people.
Not with secrets buried inside every hallway.
A quiet knock interrupted her thoughts.
She looked toward the door.
"Come in."
Eleanor entered carrying a tray.
Tea.
Crackers.
Fruit.
The older woman smiled gently.
"I suspected you would be awake."
Vivien glanced at the clock.
"Isn't it a little late for tea?"
"My dear, after today, I believe ordinary rules can be suspended."
Despite everything, Vivien smiled.
Eleanor sat beside her.
For several moments neither spoke.
Then Eleanor carefully asked,
"Would you like to talk about it?"
Vivien laughed softly.
"Which part?"
"The pregnancy."
The word immediately tightened something inside her chest.
She lowered her eyes.
"I was going to end it."
Eleanor remained silent.
No judgment.
No shock.
Just patience.
Vivien continued.
"I couldn't afford one baby."
Her voice cracked.
"Now there are three."
The reality still felt impossible.
"My mom died owing hundreds of thousands in medical bills."
She swallowed.
"I work double shifts at a diner."
Another pause.
"I don't even own a car."
Tears threatened again.
"I don't know how to be responsible for three tiny people."
Eleanor reached over and squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to know tonight."
Vivien looked at her.
The older woman smiled.
"You only have to survive tonight."
For some reason those words helped.
A lot.
Because for the first time all day, someone wasn't asking her to solve the future.
Just the present.
Just tonight.
The conversation drifted.
Eventually Eleanor stood.
Before leaving, she paused at the door.
"Adrian has never brought anyone here."
Vivien blinked.
"What?"
The older woman smiled knowingly.
"Not once."
Then she left.
Vivien sat frozen.
Not once.
The information unsettled her far more than it should have.
The next morning began with shouting.
Male voices.
Angry.
Somewhere downstairs.
Vivien pulled on a sweater and stepped into the hallway.
The argument grew louder as she approached.
She followed the sound.
Eventually she reached a partially open door.
Inside stood Adrian.
And three men.
The tension in the room was explosive.
"...she should be moved immediately," one man snapped.
Adrian's face remained expressionless.
"No."
The second man slammed a hand onto the table.
"You are thinking emotionally."
That was apparently the wrong thing to say.
The room became deadly quiet.
Adrian slowly looked up.
"What exactly are you suggesting?"
The man hesitated.
"That she's a liability."
Vivien felt her stomach drop.
A liability.
As if she were cargo.
Not a person.
The third man noticed her first.
His eyes widened.
Everyone turned.
The argument stopped instantly.
Adrian's gaze found hers.
Something flashed across his face.
Concern.
Then annoyance.
Probably because she'd overheard.
"Leave us," he ordered.
The three men obeyed immediately.
Within seconds the room was empty except for Adrian and Vivien.
She crossed her arms.
"A liability?"
He sighed.
"You weren't supposed to hear that."
"That's your defense?"
"No."
"Good."
Vivien stepped inside.
"Because it's terrible."
The silence stretched.
Finally Adrian spoke.
"They're worried."
"About me?"
"About what happens if our enemies find you."
Our.
Not my.
Our.
The word caught her off guard.
Apparently it caught him off guard too.
His expression briefly tightened.
Vivien noticed.
Neither mentioned it.
Instead she asked,
"Who was Rossi?"
Adrian's face darkened instantly.
The reaction alone told her enough.
Someone important.
Someone dangerous.
"An old enemy."
"That doesn't explain much."
"No."
"Try harder."
For a moment Adrian almost smiled.
Almost.
Then he walked toward the window.
"Rossi's father and mine built this organization together."
Vivien listened carefully.
"Years ago they became enemies."
"Why?"
"Power."
Simple.
Brutal.
Believable.
"His father died."
Vivien frowned.
"And he blames yours?"
"Yes."
She folded her arms tighter.
"Did your father kill him?"
Silence.
Not denial.
Not confirmation.
Just silence.
That answer frightened her.
Adrian finally turned.
"Rossi has spent ten years trying to destroy everything connected to my family."
Vivien's stomach tightened.
"And now that's me."
Adrian didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
By afternoon she felt trapped.
The estate was beautiful.
And enormous.
Yet every hallway reminded her she couldn't leave.
Guards stood everywhere.
Security cameras watched every entrance.
Even the gardens had patrols.
Vivien wandered outside anyway.
Fresh air felt necessary.
The rain had stopped.
Sunlight filtered through massive trees lining the property.
For the first time since arriving, she found a place that felt peaceful.
A small lake hidden behind the mansion.
She sat on a stone bench overlooking the water.
The silence was soothing.
Until a voice interrupted.
"You should have security with you."
Vivien rolled her eyes without turning.
"Good afternoon to you too."
Adrian sat beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
The careful distance annoyed her.
"You always this controlling?"
"Usually more."
She laughed despite herself.
The sound surprised both of them.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Adrian asked quietly,
"How are you feeling?"
Vivien looked at him suspiciously.
"Physically or emotionally?"
"Both."
She considered.
"Tired."
That answer covered almost everything.
Adrian nodded.
"I arranged appointments with specialists."
Of course he had.
"Without asking me."
"They're the best doctors available."
"There it is."
"What?"
"The thing you do."
His eyebrows rose slightly.
Vivien pointed at him.
"You decide things."
"When they're important."
"They're important to me too."
The words landed harder than she'd intended.
Adrian looked away.
Toward the lake.
Toward anything except her.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter.
"I know."
Something in those two words felt genuine.
Painfully genuine.
Vivien found herself studying him.
Really studying him.
Not the handsome stranger from the wedding.
Not the dangerous man from the clinic.
The real Adrian.
There were shadows beneath his eyes.
Tiny signs of exhaustion.
Stress.
Responsibility.
He looked like someone carrying a weight too heavy for one person.
The realization annoyed her.
Because she didn't want to sympathize with him.
Not after he disappeared.
Not after dragging her into this world.
Yet she couldn't entirely stop herself.
A movement across the lake interrupted the moment.
Someone stood among the trees.
Watching.
Vivien sat upright.
"Who's that?"
Adrian instantly followed her gaze.
The transformation was immediate.
Every relaxed muscle disappeared.
The stranger vanished behind the trees.
Adrian was already standing.
His phone appeared in his hand.
"Security."
The single word carried authority.
A moment later guards emerged from seemingly nowhere.
Running.
Weapons visible.
Vivien's heart pounded.
"What happened?"
"No idea."
Adrian's eyes never left the tree line.
"But no one should be there."
Within minutes the guards returned.
Empty-handed.
The stranger was gone.
That night security doubled.
More guards.
More patrols.
More tension.
The entire estate seemed on edge.
Vivien sat in her room reading when someone knocked.
She opened the door.
Marcus stood outside.
His expression was grim.
"Mr. Blackwood wants everyone in the safe room."
Fear instantly returned.
"What happened?"
"We received a message."
Vivien followed him downstairs.
The safe room resembled a military bunker.
Concrete walls.
Monitors.
Communication equipment.
Adrian stood at the center.
His face was unreadable.
Marcus handed him a tablet.
Adrian looked at it.
Then slowly passed it to Vivien.
A photograph filled the screen.
Her apartment.
Or what remained of it.
The building had been destroyed by fire.
Vivien's knees nearly gave out.
"No."
The image shook in her hands.
"No."
Everything she owned.
Gone.
Every photograph of her mother.
Gone.
Every memory.
Gone.
The room blurred.
Someone caught her arm before she fell.
Adrian.
His grip was firm.
Steady.
Safe.
Vivien hated needing it.
But she couldn't pull away.
Not right now.
Not while staring at the ashes of her old life.
"There was a note," Marcus said quietly.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Vivien looked up.
"What note?"
Nobody answered immediately.
That terrified her.
Finally Adrian spoke.
"For me."
"What did it say?"
The room fell silent.
Then Adrian recited the words.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if each one carried poison.
"'Three heirs deserve a proper welcome.'"
Every drop of blood drained from Vivien's face.
The babies.
The message wasn't about her.
It was about them.
Someone knew.
Someone wanted Adrian to know they knew.
And suddenly the walls of the safe room felt far too small.
Far too fragile.
Because whoever Rossi was...
He wasn't simply hunting Adrian anymore.
May you like
He was hunting Adrian's children.
And the war had officially begun.
