BOUND TO THE BROKEN KING: THE MAID WHO EXPOSED A MAFIA DYNASTY

The discovery of the Moretti bug changed the entire complexion of the war.

The Morettis were the oldest, most ruthless crime syndicate in New York, Gabriel’s primary rivals for the multi-billion-dollar maritime shipping contracts along the Eastern seaboard. If they had planted a listening device directly inside our inner sanctum, it meant Julian had not been acting alone. He had sold Cross Maritime's operational security to our deadliest enemies in exchange for backing his coup.

"The bug was activated three hours ago," Landon said, analyzing the frequency on his diagnostic scanner. "Right after Julian was arrested at the corporate tower. The Morettis know Julian failed. They know Gabriel is awake, and they know their window to strike is closing."

Gabriel sat at his desk, his jaw set in ruthless determination. "Anthony Moretti won't let this go to litigation. He knows if I regain full operational control, I will burn his shipping docks to the water line. He will attempt a decapitation strike."

"We should evacuate the estate," Landon urged. "Move to the upstate compound."

"No," Gabriel barked, slamming his palm on the desk. "We run from no one. This house is a fortress. If Anthony Moretti wants my head, he will have to come through my gates and pay for every inch of soil in blood."

Gabriel turned to me. "Maya, I am sending you with an armored escort to a secure safehouse in Connecticut."

"No," I said instantly, stepping forward.

Gabriel’s eyes flared with anger. "This is not a debate, Maya! This is an active war zone! Men will die tonight!"

"I am not leaving you," I said, my voice steady, unyielding, and fierce. "I spent my whole life running from landlords, debt collectors, and fear. I am not running away from the man who gave me back my life. You need someone to manage your medical stability, and you need someone you can trust with your back."

Gabriel stared at me, his chest heaving. The sheer defiance in my eyes seemed to strike a chord deep within his soul. Slowly, the anger in his face melted into an expression of fierce, reverent awe.

"You are the most stubborn woman on this planet," he muttered.

"And you're the most arrogant boss in New York," I countered with a faint smirk. "Now tell me what we need to do."

For the next four hours, the Cross estate transformed into a military garrison. Gabriel directed the defense from his command console with surgical brilliance: non-lethal perimeter traps, infrared surveillance grids, automatic steel storm shutters sealing every window, and twenty elite security contractors stationed at tactical choke points across the grounds.

By two in the morning, a torrential storm had knocked out the civilian power grid across the North Shore. The estate switched seamlessly to auxiliary diesel generators, casting long, dramatic shadows across the marble corridors.

I stood beside Gabriel in the central security hub on the second floor, monitoring the bank of sixty-four live camera feeds.

Suddenly, camera feeds four, five, and six along the southern perimeter wall went completely black.

"Motion sensors tripped at the boat dock," Landon’s voice crackled through the tactical radio. "Thermal imaging confirms twelve armed hostiles breaching the tree line! They're cutting the backup power lines!"