Chapter 5 - Meeting Elias Marchetti in His Fortified Chicago Mansion
The black armored Lincoln Town Car rolled through the towering iron gates of the Marchetti estate in Lincoln Park.
Maeve’s heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird as the vehicle crunched slowly up the stone driveway.
The mansion loomed before them like a medieval fortress, surrounded by stone walls, security cameras, and armed guards.
Gabriel Ferraro, a massive man with dark eyes and a broken nose, stood waiting by the grand double doors.
He opened the car door with mechanical precision, his gaze scanning Maeve from head to toe with chilling suspicion.
“Welcome back, Miss Ashford,” Gabriel said, his voice deep and entirely devoid of warmth.
“Thank you, Gabriel,” Maeve replied, forcing her voice to remain steady as she stepped out onto the polished pavement.
She walked up the wide marble steps, her high heels clicking rhythmically against the stone under the watchful eyes of the guards.
Inside, the foyer was breathtaking, adorned with dark mahogany wood panels, crystal chandeliers, and priceless oil paintings.
Gabriel led her down a long, dimly lit hallway toward the private rear study overlooking Lake Michigan.
He stopped in front of heavy oak doors reinforced with steel plating, rapping twice with his heavy knuckles.
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“Enter,” a deep, resonant voice commanded from within the room.
Gabriel pushed the doors open, gesturing for Maeve to step inside the lion’s den alone.
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