Chapter 10 - THE GUARDIAN’S RETURN
Mark swallowed hard, his face turning pale as he realized there was no escape. He slowly raised his hands, stepped into the front passenger seat of the black armored SUV, and pulled the heavy door shut behind him.
Adrian carried Sophia around to the rear passenger door. He opened it gently, placing her inside the luxurious, heated leather interior of the armored cabin. He buckled her into the deep leather seat, pulled a soft cashmere throw blanket from the bar console, and wrapped it carefully around her thin shoulders.
Sophia looked up at him, her small hands clutching the pale blue teardrop pendant through the soft cashmere fabric.
"Are you going to find my mama?" she asked softly, her eyes brimming with fresh tears.
Adrian leaned in, his sharp features softening as he reached out with a tattooed thumb to gently wipe a speck of dirt from her pale cheek.
"I'm going to find her, Sophia," Adrian promised, his voice ringing with absolute, unshakeable certainty. "And no one is ever going to make you hide again."
He closed the heavy armored door, sealing her safely inside the bulletproof sanctuary of the SUV.
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Adrian turned to face the cold Chicago morning, his black suit standing out sharply against the grey granite buildings. He adjusted his cuffs, slid his suppressed sidearm into his grip, and stepped toward the front seat of the vehicle to deal with the traitors who had kept his family in the dark for eight long years.
The sun shone brightly over Michigan Avenue, reflecting off the pale blue stone visible through the dark tinted glass, as the Moretti empire prepared for an explosive, merciless reckoning.
