Chapter 3 - The Protector's Vow
By eight o'clock that evening, a torrential rainstorm lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Moretti estate, blurring the distant lights of Lake Michigan.
Inside the estate's private dining hall, a warm fire crackled in the stone fireplace.
Sophia sat nervously on the edge of a velvet dining chair, still wearing her black-and-white maid uniform. Across from her, three-year-old Emma sat happily in a high chair, eating a bowl of warm strawberry ice cream while holding her small paintbrush.
At the head of the long mahogany table sat Alessandro. He had changed into a fresh white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his broad forearms, exposing his intricate dark tattoos. The yellow flower and blue butterfly were gone from his face, but a faint, warm glow remained in his dark eyes.
"Mr. Moretti," Sophia began, her voice trembling softly as she held a cup of tea. "I don't know how to apologize for what happened today. I should have kept a closer eye on Emma. If you want us to leave—"
"You are not leaving, Sophia," Alessandro interrupted gently, setting his crystal glass down. "Your daughter saved my life today."
Sophia blinked, her dark eyes wide with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"The drive Vincent was hiding held the operational schedule for our harbor terminals," Alessandro explained, his gravelly voice low and serious. "Don Valenti was planning an ambush at midnight. If Emma hadn't seen Vincent hide that drive, six of my men would have walked into a trap tonight."
Sophia swallowed hard, looking over at her daughter, who was currently painting a small yellow dot on her napkin. "She... she just likes colors, Mr. Moretti."
"She has sharp eyes, Sophia," Alessandro said. "And in my world, sharp eyes keep people alive."
Alessandro stood up, walking over to the high chair. He dropped to one knee beside Emma, taking a clean napkin and gently wiping a stray drop of strawberry ice cream from her chin.
"Starting tonight," Alessandro announced, looking up at Sophia, "you and Emma are moving out of the staff quarters. You will stay in the east wing master suite."
Sophia gasped, rising from her chair. "Mr. Moretti, no! I am just the housekeeper! The other staff will talk, and... and your enemies—"
"My enemies already know who lives in this house, Sophia," Alessandro said, his tone absolute and unyielding. "Vincent was working for the Valenti syndicate. As long as Valenti is out there, this house is a fortress, and you two are under my personal protection."
Emma reached out her small hand, touching Alessandro’s dark hair with her paint-stained fingers. "You're pretty now, Mr. Alessandro."
May you like
Alessandro let out a low, genuine laugh that echoed warmly through the quiet hall, shocking Sophia, who had never seen the feared mob boss smile in the two years she had worked at the estate.
Suddenly, the estate's emergency lights flashed red overhead, and the deep rumble of an explosion rattled the glass windows facing the lake.
