Chapter 4 - the estate on the cliff
Within thirty minutes, a convoy of four sleek black armored SUVs glided down the winding, tree-lined drive of the Rosselli estate on the high cliffs overlooking Lake Michigan. Massive iron gates adorned with carved stone lions opened automatically, closing securely behind the vehicles.
Alina sat in the luxurious leather interior of the lead SUV, staring out the tinted window at the sprawling limestone mansion illuminated by warm garden spotlights.
Dante sat beside her, checking a dark tablet while Leo slept soundly in a custom leather baby seat between them.
"My estate is heavily guarded twenty-four hours a day," Dante said quietly as the SUV came to a smooth stop outside the grand front steps. "No one enters or leaves without my explicit security clearance."
The SUV doors were opened by tall security guards in sharp black suits. Dante stepped out first, offering his broad hand to help Alina down onto the stone driveway.
As they walked through the tall carved oak front doors, a striking woman in her mid-forties stepped down the grand marble staircase. She was dressed in an elegant midnight-blue evening dress, her blonde hair styled in a flawless bun, her diamond earrings sparkling under the grand crystal chandelier.
This was Sofia Rosselli—Dante’s ambitious cousin and the head manager of the family's charitable foundations.
"Dante," Sofia said, her voice smooth and polished, though her sharp eyes darted immediately to Alina standing in her simple server uniform. "Who is this girl? Why did Vincent order the entire perimeter lockdown?"
"This is Alina Valdez," Dante announced, his commanding voice echoing off the marble walls. "Elena’s daughter."
Sofia stopped dead in her tracks on the bottom stair. Her sharp, refined face paled for a fraction of a second before a tight, artificial smile masked her expression. "Elena’s daughter? Dante... surely you can't be serious. Elena vanished nearly thirty years ago. Anyone could buy a fake silver trinket in a street market!"
"The silver pendant bears the master cryptographic code of our original family trust," Dante stated coldly, stepping forward. "And my son recognized her the moment she stepped near him."
Sofia’s eyes narrowed into razor slits as she looked Alina up and down. "Well... if she is family, we must welcome her. I will have the staff prepare the west wing guest suite immediately."
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"She will stay in the main east wing master quarters near my suite," Dante corrected flatly. "With round-the-clock guards posted at her door."
Sofia’s jaw twitched, but she bowed her head gracefully. "Of course, Dante. Whatever you think is best."
