Chapter 31
The glittering skyline of Chicago reflected off the dark, churning waters of the harbor, masking the secrets hidden beneath the waves. Rachel Moretti stood in the expansive, glass-walled office of the Hayes & Moretti Shipping Co., looking out at the sprawling port facility. It had been six months since Vanessa Bellini’s disastrous siege on the estate, and the logistics empire had thrived under Rachel’s meticulous, legitimate direction. Yet, the peace felt fragile, a thin pane of glass waiting to shatter. Gabriel walked into the office, his presence a comforting anchor, his gait smooth once again after his leg injury had healed.
"You're working late," Gabriel noted, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"I'm reviewing the cargo manifests from the newly acquired Eastern European routes," Rachel replied, pointing to a highlighted section on her tablet. "Something isn't adding up, Gabriel. Three shipments arrived last night under a holding company we didn't authorize."
Gabriel frowned, the relaxed husband instantly replaced by the vigilant protector. "Which company?"
"It's registered under the name Aethelgard," Rachel said, tapping the screen. "And the crest on the manifest... it’s not Romanov or Bellini. It’s an old insignia. A crowned serpent."
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Gabriel’s entire body went rigid. The warmth left his skin, replaced by a sudden, icy tension. He recognized the crest. It belonged to an old-world syndicate that had operated in the shadows long before Daniel Hayes and Gabriel Moretti had ever built their empire.
"They're testing the perimeter," Gabriel murmured, his slate-gray eyes darkening. "The king is dead, long live the queen, but someone wants to see if the new throne is secure."
