The Mafia Boss Said, “You’re Mine,” After I Bathed His Killer Pit Bull—But the Dog Chose Me First...

The glare of two high-powered halogen floodlights blinded me for a second as three men pushed their way into the boathouse.

In the center was Marco Castellano, holding a heavy-caliber handgun in his right hand, his left wrist wrapped in a thick white medical brace. Behind him were two mountain-sized dock workers armed with heavy steel iron pipes.

And stepping slowly through the door behind them, leaning heavily on his dark mahogany cane, was VIPER Castellano.

VIPER was seventy years old, wrapped in a heavy fur-collared coat, his face yellowed and sunken from years of liver failure and disease. But his eyes were terrifying—bright, predatory, and burning with a ruthless, desperate malice.

“Where is the beast?” VIPER rasped, his cane thumping against the wet wooden floorboards as he stepped inside.

I stepped into the light of the floodlights, holding Titan tightly at my hip. The flashing red LED on his collar cast a rhythmic, bloody glow across the damp floor.

“He’s right here, Mr. Castellano,” I said, keeping my voice surprisingly steady.

Marco stepped forward, raising his gun toward my chest. “Step away from the dog, girl. Kneel on the floor with your hands behind your head.”

I didn't move. Titan let out a low, dangerous vibration from his chest, his front paws digging into the wood.

“Is the chip still intact?” VIPER demanded, ignoring Marco entirely as he hobbled closer. He stared at Titan’s shoulder with greedy, bloodshot eyes. “Is the encryption active?”

“It’s active,” I said. “But he’s in shock. If you shoot me or startle him, his heart rate will spike above two hundred beats per minute. The internal security protocol will trigger a thermal purge, and the chip will melt inside his shoulder.”

VIPER stopped ten feet away. His eyes flicked from Titan to my face.

“You’re a clever little creature,” VIPER sneered, a dark, wet sound rattling in his chest. “A noble little vet tech playing hero for a dead man’s son. Did Dante promise you money? Did he promise to restore your little license?”

“He promised to protect my brother,” I said.

Marco laughed—a cruel, high-pitched bark. “Your brother is probably already locked in the trunk of Leo’s car, you stupid bitch! Dante used you! He’s probably halfway to the airport by now!”

“Dante isn't at the airport, Marco,” a voice echoed from above.

The voice was cool, smooth, and utterly devoid of mercy.

Marco instantly spun around, raising his gun toward the ceiling rafters, but before he could squeeze the trigger, a shadow dropped from the iron crossbeams twenty feet up.

Dante landed like a panther on the wet timber floor, his movement silent and fluid. Before Marco could adjust his aim, Dante kicked Marco’s right arm with brutal precision.

A loud snap echoed through the boathouse, followed by Marco’s blood-curdling scream as his gun went flying into the dark water below the floorboards.

Dante didn't stop. He pivoted, drove an elbow into the chest of the first dock worker, sent him crashing through the rotting wooden railing into the bay, and drew his 9mm pistol in a single, continuous blur of lethal motion.

The second dock worker dropped his iron pipe, raised his hands, and fell to his knees in surrender.

It was over in four seconds.

Dante stood in the center of the boathouse, his gun pointed directly at VIPER Castellano’s forehead.

VIPER didn't panic. He slowly raised his heavy brass-headed cane, his withered face twisting into a hideous, yellow-toothed smile.

“You’re too late, nephew,” VIPER rasped, reaching inside his heavy coat with his free hand. “The council members are already arriving at the main gate. I sent them a message twenty minutes ago telling them I found your body down here.”

He pulled out a small black detonator.

“This entire boathouse is rigged with three blocks of commercial C4 under the pilings,” VIPER hissed, his thumb hovering over the red switch. “If I press this, we all go into the bay together. And the Castellano line dies tonight.”

My heart stopped.

I looked down at Titan.

VIPER’s thumb was trembling, his eyes fixed entirely on Dante, his jaw working as he prepared to press the switch. He had forgotten about the dog. He had forgotten that Titan was deaf on his left side—the side facing VIPER.

I didn't say a word. I didn't make a sound.