Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask novel Chapter 166

166 Chapter 166 Truth From Ashes

Caleb’s POV 1

My nerves were stretched to the breaking point as I waited for updates from my enforcers. The surveillance team had pinpointed the cell tower location and established a search radius. Multiple crews were already mobilizing toward the target area across our territory.

My secure phone buzzed with an incoming call from Madeline, Finn’s mother and one of our most trusted family associates.

“Don Thorne, it’s Madeline.”

“Our soldiers just arrived with their tracking specialists. They’re moving in

now.”

Relief flooded through me. “Thank God. Madeline, you need to get out of there immediately.”

“Absolutely not. I’m perfectly safe in my position. I’m staying put,” she declared with stubborn determination that reminded me why Finn’s family had earned their place in our inner circle.

“Mrs. Taylor, you can’t see anything in this darkness anyway,” Finn protested

from beside me in our command center.

“Actually, while I was waiting by the safe house entrance, I had Martha fetch your surveillance binoculars. I’m quite fond of them now, so you’ll need to purchase another pair because these are mine now. They have excellent night vision capabilities.” Madeline’s matter-of-fact tone was remarkable given the

circumstances.

“Mrs. Taylor, for crying out loud, you’re not some undercover operative,” Finn groaned, covering his face with his palm.

“I’m superior to any federal agent. Our Don confirmed it.” Despite the overwhelming tension, Madeline somehow managed to draw laughter from

166 Chapter 166 Truth From Ashes

everyone in our war room.

“Madeline, you’re absolutely incredible. I can’t thank you enough,” I said with genuine gratitude toward this brave woman who had risked everything for my family.

“Don Thorne, sweetheart, everything will work out perfectly. Keep your faith strong,” she responded warmly through our encrypted line. “They’re emerging now. Two women are being escorted into our transport vehicles.”

My radio crackled to life. “Boss, what’s your status?”

“Max is safe in my custody right now, Don Thorne. He appears unharmed, but I’m transporting him to our private medical facility first for evaluation and a complete health assessment. After that, we’ll convoy back to Port Serenity. We have three captives secured, but given the sensitive nature of this family matter, we’ll handle interrogation here before deciding their fate,” Daniel explained.

“Daniel, can’t you arrange air transport? We’re extremely anxious about Max,” Xavier pressed from across the room.

“I could arrange that, Xavier, but coordinating clearance through our aviation

contacts would consume too much time.”

“I’ll charter private aircraft immediately so you can return as quickly as possible. How many passengers will you have?” Xavier asked without hesitation, already reaching for his phone to contact our pilots.

“Having wealthy allies certainly has its advantages,” Daniel chuckled through the static. “Proceed with that arrangement and provide me the logistics. My party includes myself, Max, the three prisoners, and three of my men.”

“Daniel, inform him I’m heading to the medical facility to check on little Max’s condition. He recognizes me, and I can provide comfort to the poor child,” Madeline spoke rapidly into her secure phone.

“Did you catch that, Daniel? Her name is Madeline Taylor,” Xavier relayed through our communication network.

16:57

2.8

166 Chapter 166 Truth From Ashes

“Her presence at our facility would be tremendously helpful. Max is genuinely terrified after what those animals put him through,” the captain confirmed, making my chest tighten with concern for my son.

“Excellent. I’ll contact you within minutes,” Xavier disconnected while Jude was already coordinating the aircraft charter with our aviation subsidiary.

All logistics were arranged and information exchanged through our secure channels. Hours after his rescue, my son was airborne, returning to me aboard one of our family jets. Finn’s parents chose to accompany the flight since Max refused to leave Madeline’s protective embrace after encountering her at the medical facility.

Madeline initiated a video call through our encrypted system, allowing Max to speak with us briefly. Emotion overwhelmed everyone in our command center. I contacted our estate, instructing Walter to notify all family members that Max had been recovered safely. I requested they remain at the compound, as I would bring Max there for their care while we continued our operation to locate Ivy.

Now I needed to find my queen. The search operation was still active, but the terrain proved challenging and was hampering our ground teams’ efforts.

Gemma approached and addressed me with the deference befitting my position. “Don Thorne, I apologize for the interruption, but Mr. Loxley is requesting an urgent audience with you. He claims it concerns sensitive family business. He’s called repeatedly today and is currently in our lobby.”

“How peculiar. What could he possibly want with our family?” Xavier wondered, his suspicious nature immediately activated.

“Don Thorne, he only mentioned urgent business matters, but emphasized it was extremely time-sensitive,” Gemma clarified. “He wouldn’t elaborate further to my security team.”

“Gemma, clear him through our screening process. I’ll meet him in Jude’s office,” I decided, finding Loxley’s persistence intriguing given his usual distance from our operations.

16:58 C

166 Chapter 166 Truth From Ashes

Xavier and I proceeded to Jude’s secured office within our headquarters. When Loxley arrived, Gemma escorted him inside after our security sweep

confirmed he was unarmed.

“Loxley, I apologize, but today has been extraordinarily complicated for our family,” I said while greeting him with measured caution.

horrifying detail how he had sabotaged my parents’ private helicopter, describing his methods and twisted motivations with sickening pride. He laughed gleefully about the closed-casket funeral, since the aircraft had exploded midair and my parents were burned beyond recognition. Roman wanted my parents eliminated, and me as well, because he intended to seize control of our entire criminal organization. He had even prepared fraudulent succession documents, but I had disrupted his schemes by not accompanying my parents on that fatal flight. 1

I wept realizing that Ivy had unknowingly preserved my life that day, because only my presence with her had prevented me from joining my parents and escaping Roman’s murderous trap.

The video concluded with Roman stating that I continued disrupting his plans because I had appointed Xavier as my underboss and maintained my position as head of the family when he had worked tirelessly to make me despondent and guilt-ridden about surviving. Xavier had destroyed his succession plans by encouraging me to fight back against my grief and reclaim my rightful authority.

Roman also admitted to embezzling family funds and identified his network of accomplices throughout our organization. He provided explicit details about his schemes and planned takeover. I was astounded by the scope of his treachery.

“This resolves numerous mysteries that have plagued our family,” Xavier said, approaching the computer terminal. “I’ve copied the video to our secure servers.” He removed the flash drive, placed it in the container, and handed everything to Scott. “Can you manage the legal aspects of this evidence?”

“Absolutely, Xavier!” Scott responded, accepting the container with reverent

care.

“I want every one of these traitors dealt with according to family law!” I told Inspector Martinez, my voice carrying the cold authority of absolute power.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be leaving in body bags or chains,” Inspector Martinez

16:58 0

166 Chapter 166 Truth From Ashes

guaranteed with the grim satisfaction of a man who understood true justice. “And you, Mr. Loxley, must accompany me to provide a formal statement, and I’ll need to interview your wife as well for our files.”

“Certainly, whatever our Don requires,” Loxley turned toward me with newfound respect. “Don Thorne, I apologize that members of my extended family network have caused you such suffering.”

“Loxley, actually today you’ve provided me the peace I’ve sought for years. My family owes you a debt of gratitude.” I shook his hand firmly as we parted. “Let’s proceed, Xavier. I still must find my queen.”

I returned to our command center where Zoe updated me about the search operation, explaining that the target region was in the rural territory of Blue Creek, a small town approximately one hundred ten miles from Port Serenity, an area that straddled the border between our territory and neutral ground.

“Blue Creek?” Xavier asked sharply, and Zoe confirmed the location. Xavier rushed out, returning minutes later with property documentation from our real estate intelligence files. “The Rossi faction acquired property there through shell corporations over recent years. Verify if it falls within the communication perimeter.”

One of our tech specialists took the paperwork, entered the data into our tracking system, and confirmed the property fell within the cell tower’s range. They immediately contacted Daniel and transmitted the coordinates to our ground teams.

“We’re closing in, Don Thorne,” Xavier said with cold confidence. “Soon this nightmare will end. Inspector Martinez has ordered raids on all properties listed in that evidence container to locate Roman and his remaining

conspirators.”

“Excellent! I can’t wait for this war to conclude and to have my family safely under our protection again.”

16:58 CO