“Touch Him Again and You're Fired!” His Jealous Fiancée Screamed—Then the Paralyzed Billionaire Mafia Boss Made the Plus-Size Maid Untouchable

The penthouse instantly plunged into emergency lockdown mode. Heavy steel shutters slammed down over the floor-to-ceiling windows, sealing them inside a dark, impenetrable box. The red emergency lights flickered on, casting eerie, blood-colored shadows across the room.

"How many men?" Rafe demanded, his voice dangerously calm as he reached into a hidden compartment in his bedside table and pulled out a heavy, matte-black handgun.

"At least twenty heavily armed hitters, Boss," Leo reported, checking the security monitors on the wall. "They overwhelmed the basement security team. They’ve disabled the main elevators, but they’re overriding the service shafts to get to the top floor."

Rafe checked the magazine of his weapon, sliding it into the chamber with a sharp, metallic click. He looked at Mara, who was standing frozen near the bed.

"Mara, get in the panic room," Rafe ordered, pointing to a reinforced steel door hidden behind a bookshelf. "Do not come out until I open that door myself."

"I'm not leaving you out here!" Mara protested, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.

"You are not trained for this!" Rafe barked, his protective instincts overriding everything else. "If they get to you, they can use you against me. Get in the room, Mara. Now!"

Leo grabbed her arm, gently but firmly pulling her toward the hidden room. "Listen to him, Mara. You being safe is the only way he can focus."

Tears pricked Mara’s eyes. She nodded, running into the small, heavily armored room. As the heavy steel door hissed shut, locking her inside, she watched Rafe wheel his chair behind his massive mahogany desk, leveling his weapon at the main entrance.

Inside the panic room, it was dead silent. Mara sat on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, praying to a God she hadn't spoken to in years.

Minutes stretched into agonizing hours. Then, she felt the vibrations through the floor.

Muffled explosions rocked the building. The sound of heavy, automatic gunfire echoed through the thick steel walls. The war had reached the top floor.

She heard men shouting. She heard the shattering of expensive glass. And then, a terrifying, deafening blast right outside her door shook the entire room, knocking her backward onto the floor.

The shooting abruptly stopped.