The gunfire stopped as quickly as it had begun.
Romano's men lay motionless on the road while Gale's security team rushed in, securing the area with practiced efficiency.
Vanessa exhaled slowly, lowering the metal rod in her hand
The bodies were gone within fifteen minutes.
Vanessa watched as Gale's men handled the aftermath of the ambush with unsettling efficiency. The unconscious attacker was dragged into one of the black vehicles, while the two corpses were quietly removed from the roadside.
No police.
No witnesses.
No questions.
It was clean.
Too clean.
Vanessa leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed.
"You dispose of evidence quickly."
Marco glanced at her while wiping his hands with a cloth.
"We prefer efficiency."
"That's one way to describe it."
Marco smirked.
"Detective humor."
Vanessa ignored him and looked toward Gale.
He stood a few feet away speaking quietly into his phone.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Someone had just tried to kill him.
Yet he looked like a man discussing dinner plans.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You seem relaxed."
Gale ended the call.
"This was expected."
"Someone tries to assassinate you and that's normal?"
"Yes."
"That's disturbing."
Gale slid his phone back into his pocket.
"Romano wanted to test something."
Vanessa frowned.
"What?"
"Whether you were a weakness."
Vanessa blinked.
"And?"
Gale glanced at the spot where she had knocked one of the attackers unconscious.
"You answered that."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"You're welcome."
Marco walked over.
"We found something."
Gale looked at him.
"What?"
Marco handed him a small object.
A metal coin.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"What is that?"
Gale examined it briefly.
Then his expression darkened slightly.
"Romano's mark."
Vanessa studied the coin.
It had a symbol engraved on it.
A snake wrapped around a dagger.
"A calling card?"
"Yes."
"That's dramatic."
Marco nodded.
"He likes theatrics."
Vanessa tilted her head.
"So this attack was a message."
"Yes."
"What does it say?"
Gale looked toward the road.
"That the war has started."
Vanessa exhaled slowly.
"Well."
Marco glanced at her.
"Well?"
"I've had worse mornings."
Marco laughed.
"I really like her."
Gale didn't respond.
His eyes were still fixed on the coin.
Then he turned toward Marco.
"Bring the prisoner."
Marco nodded and walked toward the vehicle.
A few seconds later, two guards dragged the unconscious attacker out of the van.
The man groaned as they forced him onto his knees.
Vanessa watched carefully.
The attacker couldn't have been older than twenty-five.
His face was bruised from her earlier hit.
He blinked slowly, trying to focus.
Then he noticed Gale.
Fear immediately filled his eyes.
Interesting.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You look terrified."
The man said nothing.
Gale crouched down in front of him.
"You work for Romano."
The attacker swallowed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Vanessa sighed.
"That line never works."
Gale didn't raise his voice.
"You were sent to kill me."
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
Silence.
Vanessa leaned down beside Gale.
"Let me try."
Gale stood and stepped aside.
Vanessa crouched in front of the attacker.
She smiled politely.
"Hi."
The man looked confused.
"Listen," Vanessa continued calmly.
"You're in a very bad situation."
The man stayed silent.
Vanessa sighed.
"I was hoping you'd cooperate."
She stood up.
"Well."
Gale raised an eyebrow.
"That was quick."
Vanessa shrugged.
"He's not going to talk."
Gale looked at the attacker.
"Probably not."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"So now what?"
Gale turned toward Marco.
"Take him back to the house."
The attacker's eyes widened.
"No—"
The guards immediately lifted him.
Vanessa frowned.
"You're interrogating him there?"
"Yes."
"That's risky."
"Why?"
"Because if the police find out—"
Gale looked at her.
"You are the police."
Vanessa paused.
"Good point."
They walked back toward the estate.
The gates opened automatically as they approached.
Vanessa noticed something different now.
The guards seemed more alert.
More tense.
Word had spread quickly.
An attack on the mafia king wasn't something people ignored.
Inside the mansion, Marco led the prisoner down a hallway Vanessa hadn't explored yet.
Vanessa glanced at Gale.
"Basement?"
"Yes."
"Ah."
"Problem?"
"That's where criminals usually keep their torture rooms."
Gale didn't react.
Vanessa smirked.
"I was joking."
Gale opened a door at the end of the hallway.
A staircase descended into darkness.
Vanessa looked down.
"Well."
She stepped forward.
"Now I'm curious."
Gale blocked her path with one arm.
"You should stay upstairs."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
"I thought curiosity was my flaw."
"It is."
Vanessa leaned closer.
"You think I can't handle it?"
Gale's voice remained calm.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On how much you want to keep seeing me as the villain."
Vanessa studied him for a moment.
Then she stepped back.
"Fine."
Marco looked surprised.
"You're letting him go alone?"
Vanessa shrugged.
"I'll find out eventually anyway."
Gale walked down the stairs.
The door closed behind him.
Vanessa leaned against the wall.
Marco watched her.
"You're calmer than most people would be."
"Why?"
"You're standing above a room where a mafia boss is interrogating someone."
Vanessa glanced at the door.
"I've seen worse."
Marco chuckled.
"You really are interesting."
Vanessa looked at him.
"So are you."
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"You follow Gale without question."
"That's loyalty."
"No."
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
"That's trust."
Marco didn't respond immediately.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Vanessa pushed herself off the wall.
"Well."
She looked toward the staircase door again.
"I guess we'll see what happens next."
Because one thing was certain.
Gale De Luca wasn't the kind of man who let attacks go unanswered.
And somewhere in the city—
Victor Romano was about to learn that attacking the mafia king's wife was a very dangerous mistake.