Chapter 23

The afternoon of the equestrian exhibition bathed the sprawling, elite country club in a blinding display of orchestrated opulence. The bright, cinematic sunlight was completely devoid of any muddy yellow tint, catching the vibrant green of the manicured lawns. The atmosphere hummed with the sophisticated chatter of the city’s political and corporate elite.

Anna stood near the VIP viewing deck, looking breathtakingly beautiful in a tailored navy pantsuit that radiated aristocratic grace. Alexander stood a few paces away, a monument of lethal, masculine power in a flawless black suit without a tie. His cold, unblinking eyes scanned the grounds, calculating every angle and blind spot.

Down in the arena, eight-year-old Emily rode her white stallion with immaculate posture, entirely oblivious to the deadly perimeter established by her father’s capos. The heavy mahogany doors of the stable block swung open in the distance, and three men in unmarked tactical gear slipped into the shadows, moving with the blunt force of hired thugs. They locked their eyes on the VIP deck and began marching directly toward the holding pens, entirely underestimating the family they intended to exploit.

Alexander did not intervene immediately. He remained perfectly still, watching the trap spring exactly as he had engineered it. He pressed a finger to his encrypted earpiece. “Let them enter the stables,” Alexander commanded smoothly, his volume incredibly low. “Unless they prefer to die out in the sun.”

>>Chapter 24