Louis stood by the massive windows of his office, the skyline of the city sprawling before him. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his mind far away from the towering buildings and the hum of city life. The events of the past weeks had shaken him more than he cared to admit. Daisy’s close calls had driven him to a point of no return.
He couldn’t rely on the system alone-not when the enemies were cunning, elusive, and ruthless.
The sound of the door opening snapped him out of his thoughts. Liam walked in, his posture tense but composed. “You wanted to see me?”
Louis turned, his expression serious. “Yes. We need to talk.”
Liam arched an eyebrow. “This sounds ominous.”
“It’s about Daisy,” Louis said, cutting straight to the point. “Her safety isn’t negotiable. And I’m done playing by the rules.”
Liam leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. “What are you saying?”
Louis exhaled deeply, his gaze steady. “I’m saying I’m going back to the Mafia.”
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then, Liam let out a bitter laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
“I wish I were,” Louis replied. “Before I built Grant Enterprises, I had ties to the underworld. I was one of them, Liam. And I didn’t just survive-I thrived. I gained power, influence, respect.”
Liam’s face hardened. “And you left it behind. For a reason.”
“Yes,” Louis admitted. “But now, that past can be an asset. Daisy’s being targeted by people who don’t play fair. If we want to protect her, we need to outmaneuver them. And that means I need to tap into resources that only the Mafia world can provide.”
Liam stared at him, his jaw clenched. “This isn’t a game, Louis. Once you go back, it won’t be easy to walk away again.”
“I know,” Louis said quietly. “But for Daisy, I’d do it a hundred times over.”
Liam’s shoulders slumped slightly, his resistance wavering. “If you’re going down this path, you’re not going alone. I’ll back you up. But we do this smart, with a plan.”
Louis nodded. “Agreed. I already have a few contacts I can reach out to. And Liam-this stays between us. Daisy can’t know.”
“She won’t,” Liam promised.
That night, Louis sat in his study, an untraceable phone in his hand. He stared at the device for a long moment before dialing a number he hadn’t used in years.
The line clicked, and a gruff voice answered. “It’s been a long time, Grant.”
“It has,” Louis replied smoothly. “But I need a favor.”
The voice on the other end chuckled. “You don’t ask for favors-you demand. Same old Louis.”
“This isn’t a casual call,” Louis said, his tone hardening. “I need information. Someone’s targeting someone I care about, and I want names. Connections. Anything that leads back to them.”
“And what do I get in return?”
Louis leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “You’ll owe me. And you know how valuable that is.”
The voice hesitated, then said, “Consider it done. But tread carefully, Grant. The underworld hasn’t changed-it’s still a snake pit.”
Louis smirked faintly. “Good. I like snakes.”
Unaware of Louis’s decisions, Daisy was beginning to notice subtle changes in him. He was quieter, more watchful, as though carrying a weight she couldn’t see.
One evening, as they sat in his library, she glanced at him over her tea. “You’ve been distant lately,” she said softly.
Louis looked up, his eyes meeting hers. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Anything you want to share?” she asked, her gaze gentle but probing.
He hesitated, then shook his head. “Not yet. But soon.”
Daisy frowned but didn’t push. She trusted him, even when he withheld things. Still, a part of her couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was brewing.
Meanwhile, Natalie’s attempts to manipulate her Mafia connections were starting to backfire. Her relentless demands and overreaching plans had begun to irritate the Mafia boss, Vincenzo Ricci, a man known for his brutal efficiency.
In a dimly lit room, Natalie sat across from Ricci, her posture confident despite the tension in the air.
“You’ve been pushing your luck,” Ricci said, his voice cold. “Spiking drinks, sending thugs-your methods are messy. They’re drawing attention.”
Natalie smirked. “And yet, I’m getting results.”
“Are you?” Ricci leaned forward, his dark eyes narrowing. “Your antics are bringing heat to my organization. If you want my support, you’ll follow my rules. Or you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of a gun.”
Natalie’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. “Fine. I’ll play nice.”
But as she left the meeting, her expression darkened. Ricci’s patience was wearing thin, and she knew she needed to tread carefully. Still, she wasn’t about to give up. Daisy had to fall, no matter the cost.
As the days passed, Louis’s dual life began to take shape. By day, he maintained his role as the head of Grant Enterprises. By night, he delved deeper into the shadows, reconnecting with old allies and gathering intelligence.
Each step brought him closer to uncovering the truth about who was after Daisy-and why. But with every move, he risked pulling her into a world she wasn’t prepared for.
One evening, as he sat alone in his study, a file on his desk caught his eye. It was a dossier on the thugs who had attacked Daisy at her birthday party. Most of them were low-level criminals, but one name stood out-a link to Natalie’s network.
Louis’s fist clenched. He didn’t want to believe it, but the pieces were starting to fit.
“Daisy,” he whispered to himself. “I’ll protect you. No matter what.”