My Assassin Husband Pointed His Gun At The Mafia Queen Chapter 02
He Let His Mistress Hurt Our Daughter
Ellie develops a fever that night.
The bruising from her fall isn’t serious, but by midnight her temperature is climbing.
I sit beside her until she finally falls asleep.
Years ago, Adrian would have panicked over a cough.
He once dragged three doctors out of bed at two in the morning because Ellie had a fever.
Tonight, he doesn’t come.
By morning, my shoulder has been stitched and wrapped.
I’m still in the medical wing when one of the house staff rushes in.
“Ms. Vale.”
I look up.
“Ellie is missing.”
I stand immediately.
“Where?”
“Your private suite.”
I know exactly who is there.
By the time I reach the main house, I can hear Vanessa giving orders from the hallway.
“Get rid of that couch.”
A crash follows.
“And those decorations. They’re awful.”
I walk faster.
The bedroom door is open.
Vanessa is inside with a crutch under one arm, pointing around the room while servants remove everything Adrian and I chose together.
Adrian stands near the window.
He doesn’t stop her.
A framed wedding photo sits on the nightstand.
One of the servants reaches for it.
“No!”
Ellie runs across the room and grabs the frame.
“This is Mommy and Daddy’s room!”
Ellie hugs the photo to her chest.
“You can’t throw this away.”
Vanessa limps toward her.
“I’m going to live here now.”
“No.”
“Your father wants me here.”
“No, he doesn’t!”
Vanessa lifts her crutch.
Before anyone moves, she swings it into Ellie’s side.
Ellie cries out and falls.
Vanessa raises the crutch again.
“Maybe your mother never taught you manners.”
She hits Ellie a second time.
“Vanessa.”
My voice stops everyone in the room.
She freezes.
Adrian turns.
“Serena.”
I walk inside.
Blood is already seeping through the bandage on my shoulder.
Ellie is curled on the floor, still clutching the wedding photo.
Vanessa looks down at her.
“As her future stepmother, I’m trying to teach her some respect.”
I stare at Adrian.
He says nothing.
Vanessa knocks the frame from Ellie’s hands.
The glass shatters.
Then she steps on it.
“Things change.”
She looks at Ellie.
“So do families.”
Ellie tries to grab the broken frame.
Vanessa’s shoe comes down on her hand.
Ellie screams.
I reach for my gun.
Adrian catches my wrist.
“Enough.”
I look at him.
“Move.”
“Vanessa is injured.”
“So is your daughter.”
“Ellie shouldn’t have come in here.”
I almost don’t recognize him.
Vanessa presses her heel harder against Ellie’s hand.
“Apologize.”
Ellie looks up at Adrian.
“Daddy…”
He doesn’t move.
Vanessa smiles.
“Call me Mom, and I’ll let you go.”
“No!”
Her heel twists.
Ellie cries harder.
That’s enough.
I wrench my hand free from Adrian.
Vanessa looks toward me.
I don’t draw my gun.
I pull the encrypted remote trigger from inside my jacket.
Adrian’s expression changes instantly.
“Serena.”
I activate it.
A red targeting dot appears on Vanessa’s forehead.
She goes completely still.
Outside, somewhere beyond the estate, the long-range weapons system powers up.
A low mechanical roar rolls through the compound.
Vanessa goes pale.
“What is that?”
I walk toward her.
“Take your foot off my daughter.”
She does it immediately.
Ellie crawls toward me.
I pull her behind my legs.
Adrian steps in front of Vanessa again.
“You wouldn’t.”
I look at him.
“You know me better than that.”
His eyes narrow.
“Turn it off.”
“My house is filthy.”
I glance around the room Vanessa has torn apart.
“Seems like a good time for some cleaning.”
I raise the trigger.
Vanessa grabs Adrian’s arm.
“She’s crazy!”
Adrian reaches for me.
“Serena, don’t.”
My thumb settles over the final authorization button.
He knows what happens if I press it.
So does everyone else.
Vanessa’s face drains of color.
“You’ll kill all of us!”
I look straight at her.
“Not all of us.”
Adrian’s voice drops.
“Don’t make me stop you.”
I smile.
“Try.”