The warehouse reeked of oil and rust. Just thirty minutes ago, Nicholas had instructed his men to locate where the Orgel brothers were being held, and now, here they were.
He did not hurry. He stepped out of the black SUV as if arriving at a gala rather than preparing to rescue Tina's brothers. His men fanned out behind him in practiced formation, tailored suits cut sharp over hidden weapons, expressions unreadable.
Tina followed half a step behind, silently hating that, at such a moment, she still noticed how everyone seemed to bend around Nicholas. How even the wind itself seemed to hush when he moved.
The men guarding the entrance froze as soon as they saw him.
One of them, shivering, swallowed visibly.
"D…Don Marino," he stammered.
Nicholas adjusted his gloves, his gaze sweeping over them lazily. "I heard you have the Orgel brothers. Take me to them."
He didn't need to threaten or raise his voice; the command itself was enough.
Inside, the air felt even thicker. Tina's pulse pounded in her ears as she stayed half a step behind him and this made her realize she will always be behind him. Her fists clenched as they were led through a maze of crates and dim lighting. She counted at least a dozen armed men, all pretending not to be intimidated by Nicholas.
But they all knew what kind of man he was: he didn't forgive, he executed.
They stopped in front of a reinforced steel door. The leader, a broad man with nervous eyes, stepped forward.
"We didn't know the Orgel family was under your protection," he blurted quickly. "We were just..."
Nicholas lifted a finger. "Open it."
The door creaked open and Tina's breath shattered in her chest. She saw her brothers chained to metal chairs beneath a flickering bulb. Even their youngest sibling, only fourteen, hadn't been spared.
She fought back tears. "Raoul! Amin!" she called, rushing to their side before dropping to her knees beside the youngest. "Jeremy… Jer!" He was so weak he could hardly keep his eyes open.
Her oldest brother, Raoul, looked up at her. First, he was stunned. Then anger twisted his features.
Amin's gaze slid past Tina, landing on Nicholas.
At that moment, the truth dawned: their sister had sought help from Nicholas.
Seeing their shock, Nicholas smiled faintly. He didn't rush forward or demand their release. Instead, he dragged a wooden chair across the concrete and sat. The scrape echoed like a blade.
The men in the warehouse exchanged confused looks. They expected Nicholas to demand the Orgel brothers' release right away.
"Hello, Raoul," he said calmly.
Raoul glared back, blood running down his chin. Even with all he'd lost, he refused to look weak before this man.
"We don't need your help," Raoul spat. Tina bit her lip. Her brothers' pride was legendary, but now wasn't the time.
"You misunderstand," Nicholas replied, leaning back and crossing one ankle over his knee. "I'm not here to help." His voice was smooth, cold steel. "I'm here to negotiate."
Tina's stomach dropped. Hadn't they already negotiated?
"Negotiate?" Amin echoed, frowning.
"Yes."
No one spoke.
"I can walk out of here, and by sunrise, every shipment you own will be intercepted, every safehouse burned, and every person loyal to your mafia hunted. Within days, the Orgel name will be nothing but a myth."
A bead of sweat slid down Tina's temple. She struggled to understand what he was doing.
"Or," Nicholas said softly, "you pledge your allegiance to me. Your mafia folds under the Marino banner. You answer when I call. You move when I command."
Tina's eyes widened. He wasn't just trying to claim her, he wanted her whole family.
He leaned forward. "In return, you get my protection. My backing. I re-build what you were about to lose tonight."
The brothers glared as if he'd sprouted horns. Tina moved away from Jeremy and faced Nicholas. "That wasn't the deal."
Heads turned to her, but Nicholas didn't, he'd expected her outburst earlier, guess she learned to be a little patient.
"Our deal," he said evenly, "was that I rescue them."
She glared at him. "You said you'd help me get them back."
"And I will."
He looked at her with ice in his eyes. "I can have them unchained right now."
A spark of hope flickered, until his gaze shifted to the captors. "But if they refuse my offer, my men are waiting outside," he smirked, "and they'll hunt you down before you make it past the docks."
The silence was suffocating. Tina's fists clenched. He would keep his word, rescue her brothers, but then hunt them down himself if they said no?
Raoul spat blood on the floor. "I'd rather die," he growled, "than let our family mafia become your puppet."
Nicholas studied him with mild curiosity. "Brave."
He stood slowly. "Unchain them," he commanded.
Tina felt relief and confusion; his men quickly obeyed. Raoul staggered up with Amin, then pulled Jeremy to his side, steadying their youngest sibling.
Nicholas shrugged his cuffs. "My men begin the hunt in ten minutes," he said lightly.
Tina's breath caught.
"You're insane!" Raoul snarled.
Nicholas chuckled, then mouthed, "Run."
"You'll kill us either way!" Amin said, eyes flicking to the door. They wouldn't make it; they'd be intercepted before even leaving this building.
"Not if you pledge allegiance to me." Nicholas's gaze locked on Tina, who looked as if she had been stabbed. His smile widened. He turned back to Raoul.
"Kneel."
The word seemed to echo. The siblings exchanged shocked looks.
"I said I'd rather die!" Raoul cried. There was no way he'd let Nicholas humiliate them.
Nicholas nodded slightly. "Very well," he said, turning as if to leave.
"Wait..."
Amin's voice was raw, their father was dead so Raoul automatically became the Don but if he wasn't going to make a decision, then he will. Jeremy was barely conscious. He couldn't let his brother's pride get them all killed. If they died, what would happen to everyone who depended on their mafia?
"We… we pledge," Amin choked out at last. The words tasted like poison. The warehouse seemed to exhale as Amin dropped to his knees. A single tear ran down Tina's cheek. The Orgel men had never bowed to anyone. Yet here her brother knelt before Nicholas.
"Smart, but you have no say." Nicholas was watching Raoul. The new Don of the Orgel mafia.
Raoul's eyes burned, not with hatred for Nicholas, but with a sense of betrayal toward his own brother.
An agonizing moment passed, ten seconds, twenty. Then, with a sound that was half snarl, half surrender, Raoul slowly fell to his knees. Tina squeezed her eyes shut, feeling something inside her shatter.
Nicholas's victorious grin was unmistakable as he approached.
"From this night forward," he said quietly, "you answer to me."
Amin bowed his head, but Raoul did not.
Nicholas's faint smile lingered as his gaze swept over all the brothers and then settled on Tina.
"Welcome to the family."