Chapter 17 - The Bloodline
The victory at the Drake Hotel cemented Victor’s absolute rule over the city, but peace in Chicago was always bought with borrowed time.
Two days later, an unexpected storm arrived at the front gates of the Rossi mansion.
It wasn't a hit squad. It wasn't gunfire.
It was a sleek, silver Bentley carrying a woman who struck more terror into Victor Rossi than an army of Morettis.
Duchess Beatrice Vance-Vincenzo—Elena’s mother.
I was in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies with Finn when the front doors were thrown open with a thunderous bang.
“Victor!” a sharp, aristocratic voice echoed down the hall. “Victor Amadeus Rossi, show yourself this instant!”
Finn dropped his cookie cutter, his eyes widening with immediate dread. “Grandmother,” he whispered, his tiny shoulders instantly hunching inward.
I wiped my flour-dusted hands on an apron, kneeling down to Finn’s level. “Hey. What’s wrong?”
“She doesn't like me,” Finn whispered, his voice trembling. “She says I remind her of Dad’s bad blood.”
Fury ignited in my chest—hot, white, and protective.
I took Finn by the hand and walked out into the grand foyer.
Standing by the grand staircase was a woman in her late sixties, draped in an opulent sable fur coat, dripping in pearls, leaning on an ivory-handled cane. Her silver hair was styled into an immaculate chignon, and her sharp, aristocratic features were twisted into an expression of haughty disgust.
Beside her stood two high-priced family law attorneys in charcoal suits, holding thick leather briefcases.
Victor was already descending the stairs, his face like carved granite.
“Beatrice,” Victor said coldly, stopping on the bottom step. “You didn't inform me of your visit.”
“I don't need permission to visit my late daughter’s estate!” Beatrice snapped, her cane striking the marble with a sharp *clack*. “Especially when I learn that you have banished my son Julian from the country, dragged my family’s name through the gutter, and allowed your criminal wars to nearly kill my grandson!”
“Julian betrayed this family,” Victor said evenly. “He’s lucky he’s still breathing.”
“Julian is a Vincenzo!” Beatrice shrieked. Then, her icy blue eyes shifted from Victor, past me, and landed directly on Finn. “And you are an unfit, violent barbarian who has turned this house into a slaughterhouse. I am not here for tea, Victor. I am here to take what is mine.”
One of the attorneys stepped forward, pulling a document from his briefcase.
May you like
“Mr. Rossi, we have filed an emergency petition with the Cook County Family Court for the immediate transfer of full legal and physical custody of Finn Rossi to his maternal grandmother, Duchess Beatrice Vincenzo.”
***