CHAPTER 6: THE DEVIL'S WARNING
727 Words
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Mackenzie stepped into the grand lobby of Lawson Tower, her thoughts still tangled.
Damien's warning echoed in her mind.
"Stay away from men like Kelvin Alexander Lawson."
She frowned.
Why would he say that?
Kelvin had been courteous throughout the meeting. He had offered her a business contract that could transform her company overnight.
Yet Damien had looked... concerned.
As she exited the building, the same black Rolls-Royce waited to take her home.
The driver opened the door.
"Miss Giovanni."
She smiled politely before getting inside.
As the car pulled away, she glanced back at Lawson Tower.
High above, one office window reflected the afternoon sun.
Behind that glass...
Kelvin watched her car disappear into the busy streets of Noctis.
Inside the penthouse office...
Damien returned.
"Miss Giovanni is on her way home."
Kelvin nodded.
"Good."
"The east warehouse?"
Kelvin's expression became unreadable.
"Prepare the convoy."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Within minutes, four black SUVs sped out of Lawson Tower.
Their destination...
The abandoned industrial district on the outskirts of the city.
The east warehouse stood silent beneath dark storm clouds.
Dozens of armed men waited outside.
The moment Kelvin stepped out of his SUV, every guard lowered their heads.
"Boss."
Kelvin ignored them.
His grey eyes scanned the area.
Damien approached.
"Ricardo's men broke into Warehouse Twelve early this morning."
"What did they take?"
"Nothing."
Kelvin frowned.
"They weren't here to steal."
Before anyone could say another word...
A gunshot shattered the silence.
Bang!
One of Kelvin's guards collapsed.
"AMBUSH!" someone shouted.
Bullets rained across the warehouse yard.
Kelvin remained perfectly still.
"Take cover!" Damien yelled.
But Kelvin didn't move.
Instead...
He slowly reached inside his jacket and drew a black pistol.
His movements were frighteningly calm.
A masked gunman rushed toward him.
Without hesitation...
Kelvin fired.
Bang!
The attacker fell instantly.
Another emerged from behind a shipping container.
Bang!
A second shot.
Another body hit the ground.
The remaining attackers hesitated.
They had expected panic.
Instead...
They found the Devil of Valestia standing in the middle of the battlefield as though he had all the time in the world.
"Advance," Kelvin ordered.
His men surged forward.
Within minutes...
The ambush was over.
The surviving attackers fled.
Damien walked over, breathing heavily.
"They escaped."
Kelvin calmly tucked his pistol away.
"They were never the real target."
Damien's eyes narrowed.
"You think Ricardo wanted to send a message."
Kelvin looked at the bloodstained ground.
"No."
His voice dropped.
"He wanted to test me."
Meanwhile...
Back in the city...
Mackenzie spent the afternoon reviewing the Lawson Holdings contract.
She still couldn't believe it.
"This could change everything," she whispered.
Her phone rang.
It was her father.
"Hello, Dad."
"Your mother tells me you've been smiling all day."
Mackenzie laughed.
"Has she?"
"Something good happened?"
"I met an important client."
"I'm proud of you."
She smiled warmly.
"Thanks, Dad."
After hanging up, she leaned back in her chair.
For the first time in years...
Her business had a chance to grow beyond her dreams.
She had no idea...
The man responsible for that opportunity had just survived an assassination attempt.
That evening...
Ricardo DeLuca sat in a dimly lit mansion overlooking the sea.
A scar ran across his left cheek.
His expensive suit couldn't hide the cruelty in his eyes.
One of his men entered nervously.
"Boss."
Ricardo swirled a glass of whiskey.
"Report."
"We failed."
A dangerous silence filled the room.
"You sent twelve men."
"Yes."
"And?"
"They're dead."
Ricardo smiled.
Not with amusement.
With interest.
"So..."
He stood and walked toward the window.
"Kelvin Lawson is still as dangerous as ever."
The frightened guard swallowed hard.
"What do we do now?"
Ricardo's smile slowly widened.
"We stop attacking the king."
He turned.
"And find his weakness."
Late that night...
Kelvin returned to Lawson Manor.
Instead of going to bed, he walked into his private study.
On the desk sat a photograph.
Mackenzie.
The one taken near the flower stall.
He stared at it for several moments.
Then quietly said,
"They'll never use you against me."
Outside the study door...
Damien froze.
His heart sank.
He understood exactly what Kelvin meant.
The problem was...
Kelvin didn't realize he had just admitted something to himself.
For the first time in years...
He had someone he wanted to protect.
- Writer
