Chapter 5 - The Fortress on the Sound
The armored black Mercedes van swept through the massive iron gates of the Caruso estate in North Shore, Long Island, just as midnight struck.
Rain poured in sheets from the black sky, whipping the ancient oak trees that lined the winding two-mile driveway. High stone walls topped with security cameras and motion sensors enclosed the fifty-acre property.
Inside the van, Sarah leaned back against the plush leather seats, her face pale from the agonizing journey from the hospital. Every bump in the road sent sharp needles of pain through her healing wounds. Toby sat beside her, wide-eyed as he stared out the tinted windows at the sprawling mansion looming in the distance.
The house looked like a French chateau built of gray limestone, its tall windows glowing softly against the dark storm.
"It looks like a castle," Toby whispered, stunned.
"It’s a cage," Sarah murmured under her breath, though she squeezed Toby’s hand to reassure him.
The van stopped beneath the grand portico. Enzo stepped out first, opening a large black umbrella. Before Sarah could attempt to slide toward the door, Enzo reached into the vehicle, scooped her into his arms, and lifted her gently against his chest.
"I can walk," Sarah protested weakly, her cheeks flushing warm despite the cold night air.
"You have twenty-four stitches in your stomach and a hairline fracture in your hip," Enzo said neutrally, carrying her up the wide marble steps. "You walking across my driveway would make my medical team resign in protest."
He carried her through the massive oak front doors into a soaring two-story foyer featuring a sweeping double staircase, crystal chandeliers, and polished granite floors.
An elderly woman in a crisp navy dress stepped forward, bowing her head respectfully. "Welcome home, Mr. Caruso. The master suite on the east wing has been prepared for Mrs. Caruso as requested."
"Thank you, Mrs. Gable," Enzo said. "Show Toby to the guest quarters in the west wing, and ensure his medical supplies are properly stored."
"Right this way, young man," Mrs. Gable smiled kindly at Toby.
Toby looked at Sarah, hesitant to leave her side.
"Go ahead, Toby," Sarah smiled weakly. "Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."
Enzo carried Sarah up the grand staircase and down a long, carpeted hallway lined with oil paintings. He stopped at a set of double carved mahogany doors, pushed them open, and stepped into a sprawling suite.
The room featured a king-sized bed with white silk linens, a roaring stone fireplace, a private terrace overlooking the ocean, and a massive marble bathroom. A team of two female private nurses was waiting inside.
Enzo placed Sarah gently onto the middle of the bed, stepping back immediately.
"This is your private space," Enzo said, gesturing around the room. "No one enters this room without your permission—including me. My suite is across the courtyard in the west wing."
Sarah looked at him, surprised by the boundary he was setting. "Thank you."
"The nurses will manage your medication tonight," Enzo continued, adjusting his suit jacket. "Tomorrow morning, my legal team will brief you on the public statement we are releasing to the press."
"And the man from the ballroom?" Sarah asked, her voice dropping. "Did he speak?"
Enzo’s eyes grew dark, the temperature in the room seeming to drop instantly.
"He spoke," Enzo admitted grimly. "Don Marcone didn't just order the hit on Leo. He has a mole inside my inner circle. Someone gave his hitman the floor plan of the Halston Hotel and the exact security schedule for my bodyguards."
Sarah’s breath caught in her throat. "Someone in your own organization?"
"Yes," Enzo said. "Which means until I find out who sold my son out, trust no one in this house except Marco and myself. Do you understand?"
Sarah looked into the dark, fierce eyes of the man the world called a ruthless crime boss. Beneath his cold, terrifying exterior, she saw the desperate father who would burn the world to keep his child safe.
"I understand," Sarah said softly.
Enzo nodded once, turned, and walked out of the room, closing the heavy mahogany doors behind him.
May you like
Sarah lay back on the soft pillows, listening to the rain beat against the glass windows. She reached up, touching the platinum diamond ring on her finger.
She had survived three bullets. But as she closed her eyes, she realized the war was only just beginning.
