Chapter 5 - protected by steel
Night fell over the Moretti estate as a fierce summer thunderstorm rolled across the coast. Heavy rain lashed against the tall glass panes of the conservatory, and thunder rumbled across the dark sky.
Sophia sat near a glass table in the conservatory, holding a warm cup of herbal tea. She couldn't sleep. The realization that her entire life had been built on her father's criminal secrets left her feeling hollow and adrift.
A quiet creak echoed near the outer glass doors leading to the gardens.
Sophia turned her head, assuming it was one of the security guards on night patrol. "Marco?"
The glass door swung open silently. A tall man dressed in dark tactical gear stepped into the warm glow of the conservatory lamp, a suppressed sidearm raised directly toward her.
Sophia froze, her heart stopping in her chest.
Before the intruder could squeeze the trigger, a dark shadow erupted from the side hallway. Luca charged into the conservatory like an unstoppable force. He slammed into the intruder with massive power, taking the man to the ground in a single violent motion. The intruder's weapon clattered harmlessly across the marble floor.
In seconds, Marco and three guards burst into the room with weapons drawn, pinning the struggling intruder to the floor.
Luca stood up, his breathing heavy, his black shirt torn at the shoulder. He didn't even look at the captured assassin; his sharp blue eyes locked instantly onto Sophia, who was trembling against the back of her chair.
In two long strides, Luca reached her. He grabbed her gently by the waist, lifting her effortlessly into his broad arms and holding her tight against his chest. Sophia buried her face into the crook of his neck, her small arms wrapping around his broad shoulders as tears finally overflowed.
"I've got you," Luca murmured repeatedly into her hair, his massive body acting as a solid wall of steel between her and the world. "I've got you, sweetheart."
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Marco inspected the captured intruder, pulling off his mask. "He has a tattoo on his wrist, Boss. Bellandi family enforcer. They know Arthur Bennett's daughter is here."
Luca held Sophia tighter, his voice dropping into a terrifying growl that echoed through the conservatory. "Move her things into my main bedroom suite tonight. Double the perimeter security. If another Bellandi ghost steps foot on this grass, kill them on sight."
