Chapter 8
The weight of Lorenzo’s ultimatum settled over the terrace like a heavy, suffocating blanket. The wealthy guests held their breath, completely paralyzed. On the floor, Ramona Carbone slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her luxurious cream dress was ruined, and her fair, rosy skin was marred by the angry, red imprint of Lorenzo’s massive hand.
She looked across the spilled champagne toward Marcus, who was groaning and spitting blood onto the carpet.
Ramona and Marcus exchanged a terrified, desperate glance. The arrogant bravado that had fueled their ambush was entirely gone. They had intended to orchestrate a public humiliation, a forced exile of Alina to prove Lorenzo was too weak to protect his new family. Instead, they were locked in a cage with a man who had just dismantled them in less than sixty seconds.
"Lorenzo, please," Marcus slurred, dragging himself up onto his knees, his expensive navy suit sparkling with shards of broken glass. "We didn't plan to hurt the girl. We just wanted Alina gone. She's changing the wills. She's changing the trust!"
"You put your hands on my wife, and you pushed my daughter off a ledge," Lorenzo growled, taking one slow, heavy step toward Marcus. "I don't give a damn about the trust. I care about who told you to do this."
"No one told us!" Ramona cried out from the chairs, her voice trembling. "It was just us, Lorenzo! The family is terrified of you leaving everything to a three-year-old!"
"You are lying," Lorenzo said softly. His thick eyebrows drew together. "You are cold, Ramona, but you aren't stupid. And Marcus is a coward. Neither of you has the spine to attack my blood in public without backing. Someone promised you protection if you removed Alina."
"He's right, Marcus," Alina spoke up from behind Lorenzo, her voice remarkably composed despite her torn dress. "You wouldn't risk your position on the board unless someone with more power guaranteed your safety."
Marcus swallowed hard, his eyes darting frantically toward the locked glass doors of the clubhouse. "If I tell you, he’ll kill me, Lorenzo. You know he will."
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"If you don't tell me," Lorenzo whispered, leaning his massive, dense frame down until his weathered face was inches from Marcus, "I will break every bone in your body right here in front of your friends."
Marcus let out a pathetic whimper, his aggressive facade completely shattered by the veteran boxer's terrifying presence.
