Chapter 2 - the silver seal
The quiet space around table four felt completely isolated from the rest of the bustling restaurant. Dante stood up slowly from the booth, his broad shoulders casting a massive shadow over the table while still holding little Leo securely against his broad chest.
"What was your mother’s name?" Dante demanded softly, his dark eyes locked onto Alina’s trembling hands.
"Elena... Elena Valdez," Alina answered, her voice shaking slightly under his intense gaze. "She worked as a private seamstress. Eight months ago, she left for an evening appointment and never returned home. The police closed the file three months later."
Dante looked over his shoulder at his chief bodyguard, a tall, stern man named Vincent standing two feet away. Without saying a word, Dante gave a single, sharp nod.
Vincent immediately reached into his black suit jacket, pulled out a encrypted smartphone, and stepped into the quiet hallway near the kitchen.
"Mr. Rosselli..." Mr. Carrillo rushed over, sweat glistening on his forehead as he bowed nervously. "Is there a problem with the service? I can assign our top captain to your table immediately—"
"Leave us," Dante interrupted flatly, not even glancing at the manager.
Mr. Carrillo swallowed hard, bowing repeatedly before quickly backing away toward the kitchen doors.
Dante turned his attention back to Alina. "Sit down, Alina."
Alina hesitated, holding her small order pad tightly. "Sir, I'm on shift—"
"Sit," Dante repeated, his tone leave no room for argument, though his eyes remained strangely gentle.
Alina slid into the leather booth across from him. Baby Leo immediately stopped whimpering, leaning over the table and resting his chubby cheek against Alina's forearm, his small hand still lightly clutching the edge of her silver necklace.
Dante looked down at his son’s peaceful reaction, a profound expression crossing his rugged features. "Leo has never let a stranger touch him since the day he was born. Not once."
"He's a sweet baby," Alina said softly, reaching out with one finger to stroke Leo's soft brown hair. "Why... why does my mother's necklace match your tattoo, Mr. Rosselli?"
Dante reached into his burgundy suit jacket and pulled out a small, worn leather pocket book. He flipped open the brass clasp and set it on the polished mahogany table between them.
Inside was a vintage black-and-white photograph of a young woman wearing an elegant gown. Around her neck was the exact same silver dragon pendant.
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Alina gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "That's... that's my mother! When she was young!"
"That pendant isn't costume jewelry, Alina," Dante said, his dark eyes burning with serious intensity. "It is the ancient signet crest of the Rosselli syndicate foundation. Only three were ever forged twenty-nine years ago. One belongs to me. One belonged to my late father. And the third vanished twenty-eight years ago alongside my younger sister."
