Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE HOUSE WENT DARK
The attack came during a storm.
Adeline was staying in a guest apartment on the Bellandi property while her injuries healed.
Her mother was with her.
Rain hammered the windows.
Thunder rolled over Lake Michigan.
At 10:14, the lights went out.
Adeline froze.
Her mother looked up.
“Power failure?”
Adeline reached for her phone.
No signal.
Then she heard footsteps outside the door.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Her heart began pounding.
Someone tried the handle.
Locked.
A second later, something struck the door.
Margaret gasped.
Adeline grabbed her hand.
“Bathroom. Now.”
They moved into the interior room and locked the door.
Adeline's shoulder screamed with pain.
She called emergency services using the landline.
Then heard glass shatter.
Someone had entered the apartment.
Footsteps crossed the living room.
A man's voice called:
“Adeline Bennett.”
She pressed a hand over her mouth.
“Come out.”
Her mother began trembling.
Adeline held her tightly.
The man moved closer.
Then another voice came from outside.
“Police! Drop the weapon!”
A crash.
Shouting.
Footsteps.
Then silence.
Minutes later, Gabriel knocked.
“Adeline, it's Gabriel. You're safe.”
She opened the bathroom door slowly.
Two men had been detained.
One carried a photograph of her.
The other had a keycard to the property.
Roman arrived shortly afterward.
He looked at Adeline.
Then at Margaret.
“Are you hurt?”
Adeline shook her head.
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, the feared mafia boss looked like a man who had nearly lost something he didn't know how to name.
Then he turned toward Gabriel.
“Find out who sent them.”
Adeline stepped forward.
“Roman.”
He looked at her.
“Don't do something you'll regret.”
His jaw tightened.
She continued.
“My father died because powerful men thought they could decide who mattered.”
Her eyes filled.
“Don't become one of them.”
Roman stared at her.
May you like
Then slowly nodded.
“I won't.”
