A mafia's obsession

CHAPTER 10: THE WATCHER

A chilly breeze swept through the streets of Noctis as Mackenzie locked the doors to Giovanni Events.

It was later than usual.

Most of her staff had gone home hours earlier, leaving the office building quiet.

She checked her watch.

8:47 p.m.

"Another late night," she murmured with a tired smile.

As she walked toward the parking lot, she couldn't shake the strange feeling that someone was watching her.

She stopped.

Slowly, she looked over her shoulder.

Nothing.

Only a few parked cars and the glow of streetlights.

She let out a soft laugh.

"You're imagining things."

She unlocked her car and drove away.

Unknown to her...

A black sedan remained parked across the street.

Inside sat two men.

One lifted a camera with a long lens.

Click.

Another photograph.

The passenger picked up his phone.

"Boss."

A cold voice answered.

"Report."

"She's leaving the office now."

Ricardo DeLuca smiled as he looked out over the sea from his mansion.

"Keep watching."

"No contact."

"Not yet."

Across the city...

Kelvin sat alone in his private study at Lawson Manor.

A chessboard rested on the table before him.

He stared thoughtfully at the pieces.

Damien entered without a sound.

"Our surveillance team has confirmed it."

Kelvin moved a black king one square forward.

"Ricardo's men?"

"They've been following Miss Giovanni for two days."

Kelvin's hand stopped.

"They've crossed a line."

Damien nodded.

"What are your orders?"

Kelvin stood.

"No warnings."

"No negotiations."

"Bring me the men following her."

"Alive."

Damien gave a slight bow.

"Understood."

The next afternoon...

Mackenzie met Sophia at a small café near the city park.

Sophia stirred her iced coffee and smiled.

"So..."

"You still haven't answered Mr. Lawson's dinner invitation?"

Mackenzie sighed.

"I've been busy."

"You've been avoiding it."

"Maybe."

Sophia leaned forward.

"Do you like him?"

Mackenzie hesitated.

"I barely know him."

"That's not what I asked."

Mackenzie looked down at her cup.

"I don't know."

She remembered the way he'd caught her when she almost fell.

The respect he'd shown during their meeting.

The opportunity he'd given her company.

"He isn't what people say."

Sophia smiled knowingly.

"I had a feeling you'd say that."

Just then...

Mackenzie's phone buzzed.

An unknown number.

She answered.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

A deep male voice finally spoke.

"Miss Giovanni."

Her heart skipped.

"Who's this?"

"Be careful who you trust."

The call ended.

She stared at her phone.

Sophia's smile disappeared.

"What happened?"

Mackenzie slowly lowered the phone.

"I... I don't know."

Meanwhile...

An abandoned warehouse on the edge of Noctis echoed with frightened cries.

The two men who had been following Mackenzie were tied to chairs.

Damien stood before them.

"You've made a very serious mistake."

One of the men swallowed hard.

"We were only taking pictures!"

"For who?"

Neither answered.

The warehouse doors opened.

Every guard immediately straightened.

Kelvin entered.

He wore a black overcoat over his tailored suit.

His expression revealed nothing.

He walked until he stood directly in front of the first man.

"Who sent you?"

The man looked away.

Kelvin sighed softly.

"I was hoping we'd do this the easy way."

He nodded once toward Damien.

Damien stepped forward.

"You have one final chance."

Fear spread across the men's faces.

"It was Ricardo!" one of them shouted.

"He paid us to watch her!"

Kelvin's eyes turned glacial.

"What exactly were your instructions?"

"Only to observe her movements!"

"No attacks!"

"No kidnapping!"

"We swear!"

Kelvin studied them for several long seconds.

He believed them.

Ricardo wasn't making his move yet.

He was gathering information.

Kelvin turned to Damien.

"Release them."

The men looked stunned.

"Boss?" Damien asked.

"They've delivered the message."

Kelvin's voice was calm.

"Now we'll deliver ours."

He looked back at the terrified men.

"When you see Ricardo DeLuca..."

his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper,

"...tell him that if he ever speaks my woman's name again..."

"I won't stop with his empire."

"I'll erase his legacy."

The warehouse fell silent.

Even Damien glanced at Kelvin.

My woman.

It was the first time Kelvin had referred to Mackenzie that way.

He didn't seem to realize he'd said it.

That evening...

Mackenzie stood alone on her apartment balcony, looking out over the city lights.

The strange phone call still lingered in her mind.

She wrapped her arms around herself.

Somewhere below...

A black SUV was parked quietly across the street.

Not to watch her.

To protect her.

Inside, Damien spoke softly into his earpiece.

"Boss."

"Yes?"

"She's safe."

Kelvin looked out over Noctis from Lawson Manor.

"Good."

He ended the call.

But for the first time in years...

He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just another rivalry.

This time...

He had something to lose.