Chapter 7 - THE SHADOW BEHIND LORENZO’S THRONE
Clara followed Lorenzo back to his private study.
The atmosphere in the room had shifted.
The air felt heavier.
Tension radiated from Lorenzo’s security chief, a scarred giant named Marco.
“Show her,” Lorenzo commanded.
Marco tossed a heavy metallic object onto the mahogany desk.
It was a silver cigarette case.
Embossed with a coiled serpent emblem.
Clara stared at it.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Clara said.
“It was resting on your kitchen table,” Marco growled.
“Left behind by the man who ransacked your drawers.”
“Who is he?” Clara asked.
“Viktor Morena,” Lorenzo answered.
The name carried a visceral weight in the room.
Even Marco looked uneasy.
“Morena is your rival,” Clara guessed.
“Morena is a cancer,” Lorenzo corrected.
“He wants my syndicate dismantled.”
“And he believes Elena holds the key to my accounts.”
“If he finds my sister before I do, she dies.”
Clara swallowed hard.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because Morena knows you are connected to me now,” Lorenzo said.
“Because you served me in the lounge tonight.”
“You made yourself a target the moment you poured my water.”
Clara’s hands began to shake again.
Not from fear.
From sheer fury.
“I didn't ask to be part of your war.”
“War doesn't ask for permission, Clara.”
Lorenzo stepped close enough for her to feel the heat of his breath.
“Now you have two choices.”
May you like
“Run into the night and let Morena hunt you down.”
“Or stand beside me and finish this.”
