"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ryder asked, his brow furrowed as he crossed his arms. He wasn’t doubting her—he never did—but even he was unnerved by how quickly everything was spiraling. Katherine had once agreed to Lionel’s dream of a wedding with family and peace, but now... things were different.

Katherine didn’t look away from her laptop. Her expression was unreadable, cold, calculating. “It was a good idea. It’s not anymore.”

Nikolai had been playing aggressively—too aggressively. Her shipments were being hijacked, warehouses mysteriously catching fire, routes compromised. He wasn’t trying to defeat her. He was trying to rattle her. Push her to react without thinking.

But Katherine Xavier was not a woman who acted out of emotion. No, she waited. She planned. She let the enemy think they had her cornered. And then she snapped the trap shut.

Ryder still looked unsure. “But how are you going to explain this to Lionel? Will he even agree to it?”

At that, she finally glanced up. Her stare was sharp as a scalpel. “He will. If he wants his family alive, he will.”

Before Ryder could push further, the office door opened.

Lionel calmly walked inside Katherine's office without bothering to knock. Katherine being a mafia boss was not registered into his brain and she knew that he would only see her as his wife after they get married. "Ansel said you called for me?" He questioned nonchalantly. He was just appearing to be calm on the outside but inside, he was a distressed mess. Katherine knew what was happening with him. She was impressed that he was trying to be strong in front of everybody. "We think that having our family at the wedding is not safe for them." She said, expecting an outburst from him.

"So, are we supposed to uninvite our family a day before the wedding?" He asked calmly, crossing his arms. He wanted to scream and tear his hair off his scalp but he knew that it wouldn't be the best course of action. So, he relied on being sassy instead.

Ryder was already halfway to the door. He faked a phone call and slipped out with impressive speed. Katherine saw it, but let it go. Smart move.

“Nikolai is going to attack tomorrow,” she said, carefully. “We know it. And you know I’m right.”

“I also know you can stop him,” Lionel snapped. “You’re Katherine goddamn Xavier. The Capo. If anyone can make tomorrow safe, it’s you. So do it.”

Katherine stared at him, something dangerous flickering in her eyes. But she didn’t argue. He was right. She had made a promise. “Fine,” she said, voice cool. “But if anything goes wrong—”

“It won’t,” he said, turning on his heel.

But the second he stepped out of the room, Lionel’s phone vibrated.

A text from an unknown number.

He froze.

The picture made his blood run cold—Lana. Blindfolded. Tied to a chair in a dim room. A single line sat beneath the image:

Come alone.

An address followed.

Lionel didn’t waste a second. He rushed back into Katherine’s office and shoved the phone into her hands, words caught in his throat.

She looked at the screen and smirked. “He took the bait.”

Lionel blinked. “You want me to go there? Alone?”

“They’re watching. If I go, they'll know,” she said, dialing Ansel. “Trust me, she’ll be safe.”

He didn’t entirely believe her, but he trusted her instincts. That had to be enough. Lionel left without another word.

It took him more than an hour to reach the location. He expected an abandoned warehouse, something dramatic. Instead, it was a bustling street in a crowded area. Confused, he looked around—until his phone pinged again.

Get in the red car.

Sure enough, a beat-up red sedan sat by the curb. Hesitant but desperate, Lionel climbed in.

Three Russian men were waiting.

Before he could speak, a cloth was shoved over his face, and the world went dark.

***

Katherine informed Ryder that it was time to put the plan in motion. All member's of the family were prepared for this day. They knew that the chances of them returning alive was very low but they did not hesitate to die for their Capo.

Ansel continuously tracked Lionel's location and realised that his car was abandoned in a busy street. But Katherine had already predicted this. "What an old trick!" She smirked, getting ready to put an end to Nikolai. She had put a tracker on Lana's necklace and informed the girl of what was going to happen to her. Lana was excited to know everything about Katherine and promised to keep their discussion a secret.

They decided to not leave from the main entrance of the house and to take the secret tunnel instead. They were all ready to spill blood and Nikolai would never know what hit him.

Ryder was prepping the backup team. Eric and Denzel were already positioned. Everyone knew what they were walking into. And not one of them hesitated.

They didn’t follow her because she was powerful. They followed her because she was Katherine. Their Capo. And today, she was ready to remind the mafia world exactly who she was.

No more shadows. No more whispers.

It was time the world met the Capo di Capi.