Chapter 4 - The Judge’s Retaliation
The peace within the mansion walls did not reflect the violently brewing storm outside in the dangerous streets of Chicago.
Judge Kensington was a man deeply obsessed with his family’s pristine public image, and Leo’s brutal rejection of his daughter had enraged him.
Two days after Victoria was thrown out, the retaliation struck the Rossi empire with calculated, devastating precision.
Leo stood in his dark, mahogany-paneled office, staring out the window at the rolling gray waters of the lake while his phone buzzed continuously on his desk.
His shipping containers at the southern docks had been suddenly raided by a joint federal task force, frozen under a sudden barrage of heavily fabricated warrants.
Mateo stood by the door, his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for the inevitable command to strike back with deadly force.
“He is trying to choke our supply lines and starve us out,” Mateo observed, his voice calm despite the millions of dollars currently bleeding from their accounts.
Leo turned around, his handsome face hardened into a mask of pure, terrifying focus.
“Kensington thinks he can use the law as a shield to hide his own corrupt, dirty dealings while he attacks my family,” Leo stated coldly.
“He is going to learn very quickly that paper shields burn beautifully when you apply enough heat,” Leo added, walking toward his massive wooden desk.
He unlocked the bottom drawer and pulled out a thick, black leather folder containing years of heavily guarded, highly classified secrets.
“I want you to gather the men, Mateo,” Leo commanded, tossing the folder onto the polished surface of the desk.
“We are going to systematically dismantle every single one of Kensington’s illegal offshore accounts before the sun sets tomorrow,” Leo ordered ruthlessly.
Just as Mateo nodded and reached for the door handle, the office door slowly pushed open.
Lily stood in the doorway, wearing a pair of fluffy pink pajamas, holding tightly onto Beatrice’s soft, uninjured hand.
The heavy, suffocating tension in the room instantly vanished, evaporating the moment Leo laid eyes on his daughter.
“Daddy, Bee says it's time for stories, but we need you to do the monster voices,” Lily announced with innocent authority.
Leo’s dark, hardened eyes immediately softened, the ruthless crime boss completely dissolving into a helpless, devoted father.
He looked up at Beatrice, who offered him a small, hesitant smile that inexplicably made his heart skip a heavy, strange beat.
“I will be right there, princess,” Leo promised gently, walking around the desk and kneeling down to kiss his daughter’s cheek.
He looked back at Mateo, his gaze turning serious once more.
“Lock down the estate completely, double the perimeter guards, and do not let Beatrice or Lily out of your sight while I am handling the docks,” Leo ordered quietly.
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Mateo nodded once, a silent vow to protect them with his life, before slipping out into the hallway.
Leo stood up, his eyes lingering on Beatrice, silently marveling at the incredible warmth she had brought back into his cold, empty home.
