Chapter 4 - The Mafia Boss Started Losing Everything After She LeftNorah had been gone five months.
Nico changed.
He stopped drinking during meetings.
Stopped bringing women to the penthouse.
Started leaving work before midnight.
But the organization didn't become peaceful.
It became vulnerable.
Rivals noticed.
One attack nearly killed Theo.
Another cost them a warehouse.
Arthur warned him.
“You're distracted.”
“I know.”
“You can't lead like this.”
“Then replace me.”
Arthur stared.
“You mean that?”
“Yes.”
Nico had finally reached the point where power no longer felt like protection.
It felt empty.
Then he received a call.
Norah was in danger.
Someone had found the lake house.
Nico drove there.
He arrived too late.
Norah was gone.
A neighbor said two men had taken her.
Nico's world became fire.
He mobilized everyone.
Every contact.
Every informant.
Every ally.
He tore through the city.
Then found a clue.
The kidnappers wanted access to a Rinaldi shipping account.
It was a trap.
But Norah was real collateral.
Nico entered the warehouse alone.
He found her tied to a chair.
Bruised.
Terrified.
But alive.
He killed the two men before they could touch her again.
Then he knelt.
“Norah.”
She looked at him.
“You came.”
“Of course.”
He cut her bindings.
She collapsed into his arms.
He held her.
For the first time, he didn't care who saw.
“I was so scared.”
She whispered:
“I know.”
He took her home.
Not to the penthouse.
To the lake house.
He spent three days beside her.
Never left.
Never asked anything of her.
When she woke from nightmares, he sat quietly.
When she cried, he held her.
One morning she said:
“You can't stay.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not ready.”
She looked at him.
“And you?”
“I've never been ready for anything.”
She smiled.
May you like
A tiny one.
But it was enough.
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