Chapter 7 - The Shadow of Detroit
The mood in the penthouse shifted instantly from intimate warmth to a cold, tactical reality.
Adrian stood up from the bed, pulling on a black silk robe, his eyes fixed on the city skyline outside.
"Salvatore Marcone didn't come to Chicago just to collect three million dollars from a small-time crook," Adrian said, his voice dropping into the icy, calculated tone of the man who ruled the city's underworld.
Emily sat up, pulling the sheet over her chest, her eyes wide with concern. "Why is he here then?"
"Territory," Adrian explained, turning to look at her. "Marcone has been looking for an excuse to expand his distribution networks into Illinois for three years. He used Daniel Moretti as bait. He knew Daniel would get caught. He wanted me to step in so he’d have a reason to demand a meeting."
"It was a setup," Emily realized, her blood running cold. "The whole thing. Daniel trying to get close to me... Marcone wanted you to react."
"He wanted me to make it personal," Adrian agreed, walking over to the edge of the bed and sitting down beside her. He took her face in his hands, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones. "Marcone thinks he can use you as leverage against me. He thinks because I stepped out into the lobby to crush Daniel, I have a soft spot he can exploit."
"Do you?" Emily asked quietly, looking into his eyes.
"No," Adrian said firmly, his eyes burning with absolute, terrifying authority. "A soft spot is a weakness. You aren't my weakness, Emily. You're the reason I'm going to burn Salvatore Marcone's operation to the ground if he sets foot near this building again."
"Adrian, he's a mafia boss from Detroit," Emily said, her hand reaching up to grip his wrist. "You can't just go to a sit-down alone!"
"I'm never alone in my city," Adrian said with a cold, confident smile. He leaned down, pressing a hard, lingering kiss against her lips. "I want you to stay in the penthouse today. Frank and four armed guards will be stationed inside the suite. The elevator will be locked down."
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"And where are you going?"
"To the docks," Adrian said, standing up and pulling off his robe as he walked toward his walk-in closet. "To remind Salvatore Marcone why Chicago belongs to Kane."
