The Mafia's Weakness

Chapter 7: The Enemy Strikes.

Chapter 7: The Enemy Strikes

Ava barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the attack from that rainy night.

The gunshots.

The blood.

The fear in her grandfather's voice.

And worst of all, the words Ethan had spoken before leaving the office.

"They know you're here."

The sentence replayed in her mind over and over again.

By morning, she was exhausted.

As soon as the sun rose, Ava left her room and headed downstairs, hoping a cup of coffee would somehow make everything feel less terrifying.

Unfortunately, Ethan Blackwood was already there.

Sitting at the dining table.

Working.

Again.

Ava wasn't even surprised anymore.

She grabbed a cup of coffee and sat across from him.

"You know, normal people sleep."

Ethan didn't look up from his laptop.

"Normal people don't have enemies trying to kill them."

Ava frowned.

"Was that aimed at me or you?"

"Both."

She hated that answer.

Before she could continue the conversation, Lucas suddenly entered the dining room.

The cheerful expression he usually carried was gone.

Immediately, Ava felt her stomach tighten.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

"Ethan."

The seriousness in Lucas's voice caused Ethan to close his laptop instantly.

"What happened?"

Lucas handed him a tablet.

"We've got a problem."

Ethan studied the screen.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Ava watched his expression darken.

"What is it?"

Neither man answered.

That only increased her anxiety.

"Will somebody please stop doing that?"

Lucas looked uncomfortable.

Ethan finally turned the screen toward her.

Ava's heart nearly stopped.

It was a photograph.

A photograph of her.

Not from years ago.

Not from social media.

A recent photograph.

Taken yesterday.

At the mansion gates.

Someone had been watching.

Ava felt sick.

"Where did this come from?"

Lucas answered quietly.

"It was sent to Ethan's private email an hour ago."

Her hands started trembling.

Below the photo was a single message.

I found your weakness.

The room fell silent.

Ava stared at the words.

Then looked at Ethan.

Then back at the message.

Weakness?

Surely they didn't mean—

"No."

Ethan's voice was cold.

Dangerously cold.

The realization hit her immediately.

The enemy thought she mattered to him.

Which was ridiculous.

They had known each other for less than a week.

Mostly spent arguing.

Yet somehow she had become a target.

Because of him.

Ava stood abruptly.

"This is insane."

Nobody disagreed.

She pushed the tablet away.

"I shouldn't even be here."

"You should," Ethan replied.

She looked at him.

"Everything was fine before I met you."

The words came out harsher than intended.

But she didn't take them back.

Because they were true.

Her life had been difficult.

But it had been normal.

Now armed men were searching for her.

Her grandfather was in danger.

And she couldn't even leave the mansion.

For the first time, Ethan didn't argue.

Because deep down, he knew she was right.

Ava noticed his silence.

Some of her anger faded.

Only a little.

Before anyone could speak again, alarms suddenly erupted throughout the mansion.

A loud, piercing sound echoed through the hallways.

Everyone froze.

Lucas swore.

Ethan stood immediately.

"What happened?"

One of the security guards rushed into the room.

His face was pale.

"Boss."

"What is it?"

The guard swallowed hard.

"There has been a breach."

Ava felt her heart stop.

A breach?

"In the security system?"

The guard shook his head.

"No, sir."

The man's voice trembled.

"Someone is already inside the property."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then Ethan's expression changed.

Ava had seen him annoyed.

Irritated.

Even angry.

But this was different.

This was the face of a predator.

A man preparing for war.

"Lock down the mansion."

"Yes, sir."

"Double the guards around Ava."

"Yes, sir."

The guard ran out.

Lucas immediately reached for his weapon.

Ava stared at both men.

Everything was happening too fast.

"Wait."

Nobody listened.

"Wait!"

This time Ethan looked at her.

"What?"

"Who is inside?"

For a moment, nobody answered.

Then Ethan gave her the truth.

"I don't know."

And somehow that answer was far more terrifying than if he had.

Because if the great Ethan Blackwood didn't know who had entered his heavily guarded mansion...

Then whoever it was had already proven they were dangerous.

Very dangerous.

And somewhere inside the estate, hidden among hundreds of rooms and hallways, an enemy was waiting.

Watching.

And perhaps hunting.

For the first time since entering Ethan's world, Ava realized something terrifying.

The danger wasn't outside the mansion anymore.

It was already inside.