Chapter 5 - The Godfather's Debt
"Castiglione..." Emma whispered, her face draining of what little color remained.
Everyone in the city knew that name. The Castiglione family wasn't just a street gang; they were a massive, ruthless syndicate that controlled the docks, the construction unions, the banks, and half the city council. And the man standing in her tiny, modest living room was Julian Castiglione—the ruthless heir who had taken over the family after his father's death two years ago.
"You're a mob boss," she said, her voice barely audible.
"I am a man who honors his debts," Julian corrected, taking another step forward.
"Lower the knife, Emma. If you cut me, my men outside will break down this door and tear this house apart before I can even tell them to stop."
Emma looked at him, then down at the shaking blade in her hand. Realizing the futility of her defense, she let the knife drop. It fell onto the rug with a soft thud.
"I don't want your debt," she said, her voice laced with desperate fury. "I just want to go to sleep! I want you to take your men, your cars, and your guns off my street and leave me alone!"
"I can't do that," Julian said calmly.
"Why not?!"
"Because at 1:00 a.m. tonight, a hit squad sent by the Marcone cartel tried to execute me in an alley behind 4th Street," Julian explained, his grey eyes turning as cold as ice. "They failed. But they traced where my car went afterward. They know I was treated at Mercy General. They know a nurse stitched me up off the books."
Emma's breath caught in her throat.
"They know who you are, Emma," Julian continued softly. "Right now, three Marcone hitmen are driving toward this neighborhood to pick you up, torture you for information about where I am hiding, and throw your body in the harbor."
Emma stumbled back, her knees hitting the edge of her armchair. "No... no, that's impossible. I didn't do anything wrong!"
"You saved my life," Julian said, closing the distance between them until he was standing directly in front of her. "In my world, that makes you the most valuable target in the city."
May you like
He offered his hand to her—large, scarred, and steady.
"My men are surrounding your house not to trap you, Emma," he said, his voice dropping into a gentle, commanding tone. "They are here to make sure no one touches a single hair on your head. You are coming with me."
