Chapter 10 - The Counter-Strike
The digital clock on the study wall glowed 2:15 AM as Damen pulled up a secure satellite uplink on the main monitor.
"Tomas," Damen barked into the desk intercom.
"Boss," the big man’s voice answered instantly from the security control room.
"Prep the secondary chopper on the roof. We’re paying a late-night visit to the Giordano downtown penthouse."
I stiffened, pulling my hands back slightly. "Downtown? Damen, if Alessandra is back at her father’s penthouse, walking into their stronghold right now is suicide. They’ll have an army waiting for us."
"They won't be expecting us for another six hours," Damen said, his voice cold, steady, and completely unyielding as he holstered a fresh, fully loaded magazine into his sidearm. "By the time the sun comes up over the harbor, the Giordano syndicate won't be worrying about corporate mergers or maritime lawsuits. They'll be fighting to keep their own assets out of federal receivership."
He walked over, gently cupping my face with his large, warm hands, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone.
"You're staying here with Marco and a locked perimeter," Damen continued, his tone softening into an intense, fierce tenderness. "I’m going to clean house, and then this war is over for good."
"No," I said, my amber eyes locking onto his without a flicker of doubt. "I'm not hiding in a safehouse while you walk into a hornets' nest alone, Damen. I helped build this empire with you in the beginning, and I'm not sitting out the end."
Damen stared at me for a long, agonizing moment, searching my face for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, a low, breathy chuckle escaped his chest—a mix of profound respect and terrifying possessiveness.
"God help anyone who ever tries to cross you, Serena," he whispered, pressing his forehead against mine.
May you like
He turned back to the terminal, hit a single master command button that instantly locked down every exterior door on the estate, and grabbed his overcoat.
"Let's go remind them who owns Baltimore," Damen said.
