Chapter 5 - The South Gate Protocol
Dante didn't panic. His body adjusted instantly, entering the cold, hyper-focused state that had kept him alive through sixteen years of mob warfare.
"Did they breach the outer fence?" Dante asked smoothly, walking toward his desk and opening a hidden steel panel beneath the mahogany surface.
"Not yet," Mario reported, pulling a high-caliber pistol from his shoulder holster and checking the chamber with a sharp clack. "They're idling with their lights off. Our gate camera flagged one of the passenger faces through the facial recognition grid. It’s Mark Krol—Viktor’s younger brother."
Elena gasped, taking a instinctual step back, her hands flying to her mouth. "Mark... he’s Viktor’s chief executioner. If he’s here—"
"Quiet, Elena," Dante commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He pulled a heavy, custom black pistol from the desk safe, checked the magazine, and slid it smoothly into his waistband holster behind his back. He picked up his phone and dialed a three-digit extension.
"Security office," a voice answered over the speaker.
"Activate Phase Two protocol for the south perimeter," Dante ordered calmly. "Lock down the main gates, lower the iron shutters on the lower floor, and move all domestic staff into the central panic room beneath the pantry. Nobody fires a shot unless they cross the brick line."
"Understood, sir."
Dante turned his focus back to Elena. Her eyes were wide with terror, not for herself, but looking toward the hallway that led to the kitchen quarters.
"Ivy," she whispered, her voice cracking. "She’s in the servant's lounge with her coloring books..."
"Mario," Dante said. "Escort Elena to the kitchen. Get the child, bring them both up to the second-floor master suite, and lock the reinforced oak doors from the inside. Take two men with you."
"Boss, I should be with you at the south gate," Mario protested.
"You do as I order, Mario," Dante said, his voice dropping into a dangerous key. "Keep the girl and the child safe. If a single bullet enters that room, I will hold you personally accountable."
"Yes, sir," Mario bowed his head instantly.
Dante stepped closer to Elena. He reached out, his large, warm hand grabbing her shoulder with a firm, grounding grip that stopped her trembling body instantly.
"Listen to me," Dante said, locking his dark eyes onto her pale face. "You hid your daughter in my home for three months. Now it is my turn to keep her safe. Go upstairs with Mario. Do not open that door for anyone except me."
Elena looked at him, seeing no hesitation, no doubt, and no fear in the face of the most dangerous man in Boston.
"Thank you, Dante," she whispered, using his first name for the very first time.
Dante didn't answer with words. He gave her shoulder a firm squeeze, then turned toward Argo, who was standing beside the hearth, his ears pinned back, his low growl returning to his chest.
"Argo," Dante called out sharply. "Stay with them."
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The mastiff let out a soft huff, walked directly over to Elena’s side, and sat down at her heels, his massive head turned toward the hallway, ready for war.
Dante unbuttoned his suit jacket, adjusted his cuffs, and walked out of the library toward the grand front foyer, his heavy footfalls echoing like thunder against the marble floors.
