The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 171: Under Siege … again?

I couldn’t stop staring at the photo.

Rose, sleeping peacefully in her crib, looking innocent and vulnerable.

Someone had been close enough to photograph her through the window while she slept.

It was a half a mile away, but still they watched and targeted her.

"We’re moving," I said, my voice flat and already decided. "Today. Now, somewhere Juliet can’t find us."

Tony shook his head. "That’s what she wants. To make us run and to control us through fear."

"I don’t care what she wants! She threatened our daughter!"

Fear was transforming me into something else. Something fiercer.

It was bringing rage, maternal fury, and my protective instinct in overdrive.

"I will kill her myself if she touches Rose."

Tony looked at me, startled. He’d never seen me like this.

This dangerous determined mother bear protecting her cub.

"We’ll stop her together and legally-"

"Legally?" I was already shouting now. "She’s been watching our home and photographing our baby while she sleeps! Legal doesn’t work with people like Juliet!"

"Katherine-"

"No. I’m done playing defense. I’m done hiding and done waiting for threats to materialize. We go on offense. We hunt her, and we end this."

The FBI strategy meeting was held in our dining room.

Timothy called via video, Luca came in person, and Tony and I began planning a response to Juliet’s threat.

"We wait for her demands," Timothy suggested. "See what she wants and negotiate if possible-"

"No." My voice was ice, already controlled fury. "We go on offense, hunt her down, find her, and end this permanently."

"Katherine, we need to be strategic-"

"I am being strategic. Juliet wants something; she wants me to suffer. Fine, let’s give her what she wants and use it against her to set a trap."

Timothy was quiet, considering it.

Tony was already shaking his head. "No. Whatever you’re thinking, no."

"We make ourselves targets," I proposed. "Visible and vulnerable to draw her out."

Tony immediately objected. "Absolutely not. You and Rose stay protected-"

"She already got close enough to photograph Rose! Protection isn’t working!"

"So your solution is to make it easier for her to attack?"

"My solution is to control the situation. Set the trap on our terms and catch her when and where we choose."

Timothy was already considering it. I could see the wheels turning.

"It could work. A public event in a controlled environment with heavy security disguised as normal protection. But it’s extremely risky."

"Everything’s risky," I countered. "But waiting for Juliet to make the first move is riskier. She’s planning something, and we need to be proactive."

After the meeting, Tony and I had a heated private argument.

"I won’t use you and Rose as bait. That’s the end of the discussion."

"It’s not your decision alone. This is my life, Rose’s life, and I have a say in it."

"And I’m saying no. It’s too dangerous."

"Oh! More dangerous than waiting for Juliet to strike? She photographed our daughter, Tony! She’s planning something, and we need to act now!"

"Not like this. Not by making you a target." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Then what? Hide forever to live in maximum security prisons and let Juliet control our entire lives through fear?"

He was silent because he didn’t have a better answer either.

"I’m taking control," I said firmly. "With or without your support."

Rose started crying, seemingly hungry and in need of her mother.

I picked her up, settled into the nursing chair, and began to feed her.

She doesn’t know and doesn’t understand the danger surrounding her.

She just wants her mama to be fed, loved, and safe.

"This is why we fight," I whispered to her. "So you can stay innocent, safe, and happy." I kissed her cheeks.

Tony was watching from the doorway.

"I can’t lose you," he said quietly. "Either of you. I can’t."

"You won’t. But we need to end this properly and for good. We can’t live in fear forever."

Elliot visited us that afternoon and noticed the tension immediately.

"What happened?"

I explained to him about Juliet. The photo, threat, and my plan.

"That’s dangerous," he observed. This was classic Elliot understatement.

"I know, but it’s necessary."

"Statistically, using yourself as bait increases risk of personal harm by approximately 340%-"

"Elliot."

"But strategically," he continued, "it does provide an opportunity to control the variables. Choose location, timing, and backup. And if executed properly, the success rate could be favorable."

"Exactly."

"Does Tony agree?"

"Tony’s being overprotective."

"He’s being logical. You and Rose are targets. Exposing yourselves increases danger measurably."

"But waiting increases it more. Juliet’s planning something, building a team, and funding operations. We can’t just react; we need to be proactive."

Elliot was quiet, then he continued. "You’re right. Waiting is passive, but Katherine, be careful. You have Rose to think about now."

"That’s exactly why I’m doing this."

That night. Tony and I barely spoke, and Rose was between us.

"I’m doing this," I said into the darkness. "With or without FBI approval and with or without your approval."

"Katherine-"

"I won’t live in fear, nor would I raise Rose in hiding. Juliet gets one move, then we end her."

"And if you get hurt? If Rose gets hurt?"

"Then I get hurt. But I won’t sit here waiting for Juliet to strike first. I’m taking control of my life... our life."

The silence that ensued was heavy and tense.

Then Tony’s hand found mine in the darkness.

"If we’re doing this, we do it right, with maximum security and FBI backup. We ensure that Rose stays completely protected."

"Agreed."

Timothy called the next morning.

"I’ve discussed Katherine’s plan with my team and analyzed the risk factors. We think it could work, but with heavy modifications."

"What modifications?"

"Rose stays hidden in maximum protection and at a different location. You and Tony become the visible targets to draw Juliet out, but Rose stays completely safe."

I hated it. I wanted Rose to be with me, but I understand the logic.

"Fine. Rose stays protected, but Tony and I are bait."

Tony’s jaw clenched. "I don’t like this-"

"I’m doing it. The question is whether you’re with me or against me."

He paused for a long time, then said, "You know I’m always with you, but if anything goes wrong-"

"It won’t."

The FBI coordinated everything. The public appearance made Tony and me visible and accessible at the Marvin Ventures official launch event with press, investors, and industry leaders.

This was the perfect target and perfect opportunity.

There was heavy security throughout, but it looked discreet, looking vulnerable while being protected.

"This is insane," Tony muttered during the planning session.

"This is necessary," I corrected.

The night before the event, Rose was with Susan, surrounded by maximum security in a different location as planned. Undisclosed even to us.

Tony and I were alone in our bedroom.

"If something happens tomorrow-" I started.

"Nothing will happen."

"But if it does. I need you to know that I love you. Always have and always will."

"I love you too. Which is why I’m terrified of this plan."

We made love intensely and desperately.

Possibly the last time, though neither of us said it.

We claimed each other, memorizing every touch and every sensation.

This was no games and no barriers; just a raw connection between two people sharing their love and commitment.

"Come back to me tomorrow," Tony whispered against my skin.

"I will. We both will."

We fell asleep tangled together, holding tight.

Tomorrow, we face Juliet.

Tonight, we have each other.

The launch event was held in a grand hotel ballroom in Manhattan.

There were press everywhere and investors in the public too, all seeking attention from the cameras.

Tony Marvin and I were on the center stage, presenting Marvin Ventures.

I was looking confident, professional, and visible to everyone.

I wore red, which was an impossible color to miss.

Tony stood beside me in his suit, presenting our vision, our company, and our future.

The FBI agents were positioned throughout. They were disguised as guests, staff, and security.

Luca’s team was on high alert, watching and waiting.

I was in mid-sentence, discussing our investment philosophy, when I noticed a sudden movement at the back of the room.

It was a woman with blonde hair, looking professional in her formal dress. She had familiar features but different coloring from Victoria. They looked a little bit similar; I could see the family resemblance.

Juliet.

She was here.

Our eyes met across the crowded room.

She smiled in a cold and calculating way, looking victorious.

She raised her hand, and it was not a gun but a phone, and took a photo of Tony and me on stage, looking exposed.

Then, she exited the building, disappearing into the crowd.

"GO!" Luca’s team began mobilizing and started chasing towards her.

But she was gone, vanished like a ghost.

My phone buzzes with a text message from an unknown number.

Nice event and lovely speech. Shame about what happens next. Check your video feed at home. -J

My heart stopped when I saw the video feed. It was the home where Rose was.

"Pull up the security feeds!" I screamed. "Now!"

Tony was already moving with his phone out and accessing cameras.

Rose’s nursery, the live feed loading.

It was empty.

Her crib was empty, and Rose was gone.

"NO!" I screamed, collapsing on the floor. "NO NO NO!"

Someone took our daughter.

During the event. While we were being baited and being distracted.

Juliet played us.

And won.