Page 149 of Merciless Daddy

“One guard was shot at the produce yard. He’s alive. Hospitalized.”

She changed the footage.

Two refrigerated Caruso lorries moved through an industrial intersection. A Russian trucking crew blocked the lane with a disabled truck. Armed men emerged from a second vehicle. The drivers were forced out. The lorries disappeared north.

Pietro’s face hardened.

Serafina set the folder on the table.

“Halberd purchased the loans tied to Caruso Produce and the restaurant building months ago. Quietly. The paperwork was structured through three shell lenders.”

I opened the folder.

She was right.

Technical defaults. Artificially triggered. Credit freeze notices. Receivership threats.

Gianni had prepared this before the wedding.

Before Yelena had left him.

Before I took Kiryl.

“Property,” Serafina said. “Money. Blood.”

“A coordinated siege,” Pietro said.

“Yes.”

Tonio stared at the burning loading bay.

“I’ll kill him.”

“No,” I said.

He looked at me.

“Not today.”

His jaw flexed.

Serafina pulled up another document.

“Lev has given Gianni thirty Sokolov soldiers. Access to Russian-controlled trucking unions. Permission to recover both his children by force.”

The room became silent.

Not because it was surprising. Because hearing it stated plainly removed any remaining hope of negotiation. Lev had chosen Gianni.

Not because he loved him. Lev did not love that way.

Because Gianni offered advantage, and Yelena had become inconvenient.

Serafina looked directly at me.

“Your unauthorized rescue gave Lev the grievance Gianni needed.”

The truth landed cleanly.