Chapter 8 - THE INVITATION TO DANGER
The warning arrived not with a gunshot, but with a simple manila envelope left wedged in their rural mailbox on Friday afternoon. Matteo retrieved it, his gloved fingers carefully sliding out a single sheet of heavy cardstock. Printed on it was a single address—an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the industrial district—and a handwritten note: ‘Bring the Black Lion, or the diner burns.’
Matteo’s face went completely blank, the terrifying stillness of the Black Lion returning in full force. He showed the note to Lena when she returned from her shift at the diner. She read the words twice, her jaw tightening with resolve. “They think they can threaten our home?” she asked quietly.
“They think I am the same man I was five years ago,” Matteo replied, sliding his heavy leather holster over his shoulders and checking the magazine of his pistol. “They don't know that having you gave me everything to lose, and everything to protect.”
“I’m going with you,” Lena said firmly, grabbing her jacket from the hook.
May you like
“No, Lena—tensor—”
“I am not staying here alone waiting to be a target,” she interrupted, her voice brooking no argument. “If they want to deal with the Marquez family, they deal with both of us.” Matteo studied her resolute eyes and realized arguing was pointless. She was his true partner in every sense of the word.
