Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask novel Chapter 494

494 Chapter 90 Racing to Lila

Beckett’s POV 1

“Beckett! Beckett!” Katarina’s frantic voice echoed through the corridors of our Brooklyn Heights mansion before she’d even cleared the marble foyer.

“In the study!” I called back, focused on reviewing the monthly reports from our legitimate art gallery operations. No family emergency was worth abandoning business, especially when those numbers directly affected our money laundering pipeline.

Katarina burst through the mahogany doors, her face flushed with urgency. “We’ve got a problem. A serious one.”

“Whatever Claire’s scheming now can wait a bit.” I didn’t look up from the financial ledgers spread across my desk. “Besides, these gallery receipts need my attention.”

“Your stepmother took a little road trip with Justin,” she announced, watching me closely for a reaction.

I laughed and continued scanning the numbers. “Excellent. The farther that manipulative woman stays from our operations, the better.” The quarterly profits from our high–end art auctions looked promising. “These auction house figures are impressive.”

“They went to Port Harbor, Beckett.” Katarina’s tone turned deadly serious. “Where Lila is hiding.”

My blood turned to ice. Suddenly, the financial reports meant nothing.

“Fuck.”

I reached for my encrypted phone just as it started buzzing. Daniel’s name

494 Chapter 90 Racing to Lila

flashed across the secured screen.

“Martinez? I was just about to call Lila.” From the corner of my eye, I caught Katarina snatching the expensive brandy from my desk.

“Sullivan, we need to meet immediately.” Daniel’s voice carried the kind of strain I’d only heard during the most dangerous family operations. “This

can’t wait.”

“Is Lila safe? My wife just informed me Claire traveled to Port Harbor with

that bastard

My heart rate spiked as I waited for his response.

“That w

barely

retu

ed up at the safe house.” Daniel’s voice hardened with rage. “She tried to drag Lila back to Brooklyn. If I hadn’t he precinct when I did…” He trailed off ominously.

pt through me like a tidal wave. “How did she locate the hat’s Lila’s condition?”

actly what I intend to discover,” Daniel said grimly. “I’m ing a photograph of Lila’s current state.”

he encrypted image appeared on my screen, murderous rage

med me. My baby sister’s delicate face was marked with an angry se, her eyes swollen and red from crying.

n coming to Port Harbor. Tonight.” My voice carried the lethal edge that ad earned me respect throughout the five families.

After ending the call, I turned to Katarina, who was now nursing my

brandy. “Pack our

Her playful

“Madonn

prepar

‘re going to collect Lila.”

n I showed her the photograph. sn’t deserve this brutality. I’ll her eyes. “Should we inform your

fath

494 Chapter 90 Racing to Lila

“Yeah, the old man needs to see this face–to–face.”

Soon, we were driving to my father’s private office in his legitimate construction company. He looked pleased when we walked into his soundproofed conference room.

“I was just considering a visit to you two,” he said with a smile that quickly died when he read our expressions.

“Pop, Claire has completely lost her mind.” I showed him the photograph of Lila. “She

down Lila’s safe house location and physically

assaulted

kidnap

“Tha

ог

nez intercepted her before she could successfully Brooklyn.”

crossed every line!” Dad slammed his fist on the solid ace turning purple with rage. “I never should have brought amily.”

ing to Port Harbor tonight,” I interrupted. “Are you coming

tated, then shook his head slowly. “No. You go secure your sister. ing my attorney and moving my assets before Claire returns. Then oman and I are going to have a very final conversation.”

y at my compound,” I offered. Even as the current family head, I feared at Claire might attempt in desperation. She’d brought nothing but oison since manipulating her way into our organization.

“I’ll retreat to the old estate,” Dad said, referring to our ancestral family

lived before Claire’s arrival. compound upst

“Absolutely

place un

O rec

lace she’ll search for you. Stay at my

d be absolutely furious after failing s the most dangerous kind.

re right. That woman is capable of anything.”

494 Chapi

I handed him my spare security codes and headed out wi…

the highway, my knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel.

“That psychopath can’t possibly be Lila’s biological mother,” I muttered through gritted teeth. “No real mother would brutalize her own child like that.”

Katarina placed her manicured hand over mine. “Claire is simply a sadistic creature, Beckett. Some people have poison in their souls.”

“Kat, yo

Kat

pl

my real mother. You remember her before she died.”

ed solemnly. We’d grown up together in the neighborhood, e same parks until my mother’s mysterious death when we

ren.

other was gentle and gracious,” she said softly. “Exactly like Lila ways been.”

suspicion that had been eating at me for months grew stronger. hen Lila had returned to visit us after escaping Claire’s control, I’d been struck by how much she resembled my deceased mother. Not just the newly lightened hair, but everything—her mannerisms, her infectious laugh, her compassionate nature. The resemblance was uncanny, as if they were truly mother and daughter.

“It’s deeper than physical appearance,” I said. “Lila possesses such a pure heart despite being raised by that monster. She shares nothing with that woman.”

Kata

in

tly. “Your mother was an angel. Lila

the times I’d discovered Lila with mysterious bruises, tin’s cowardly attacks. Her supposed half–brother was er but significantly larger, always striking when she was

494 Chapter 90 Racing to Lila

defenseless. I’d taught her basic self–defense techniques, but Justin was a gutless predator who specialized in ambush attacks.

When Lila finally escaped that toxic household, I felt profound relief. Distance from Claire had allowed her true personality to flourish brilliantly. But Claire refused to release her grip, continuously finding new methods to inflict pain.

The miles di

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