Chapter 8
By the time Maya’s shift officially ended, the dining room had emptied, leaving only the soft glow of the amber lamps reflecting off the polished dark wood tables. The relentless New York rain had intensified, lashing against the glass in heavy, rhythmic sheets. Maya walked out the employee exit into the alley behind Bellanote, pulling a thin raincoat tightly over her simple white blouse and black trousers. The cold air hit her instantly, making her shiver as she stepped into the deep puddles.
She expected to walk to the subway, hoping Dante Russo had given her the night to pack her things and process the radical shift in her life.
She was wrong.
Idling in the narrow, rain-slicked alleyway was a massive, armored black SUV. The headlights were off, but the deep purr of the heavy engine vibrated through the damp brick walls. Standing by the rear passenger door was a man built like a tank, holding a large black umbrella. As Maya approached, the man pulled the door open without a word.
Maya stopped, her heart leaping into her throat. She peered into the dark interior of the vehicle.
Dante Russo sat in the back, the dim streetlights catching the sharp angles of his face and the expensive fabric of his charcoal suit. Beside him, strapped into a leather car seat, was Sophia. The little girl was crying—a silent, hyperventilating panic attack that shook her small frame in the dark-blue velvet dress.
"Get in," Dante commanded, his voice tight with stress. It was not a threat this time; it was an urgent plea.
Maya didn't hesitate. Seeing the child in distress overrode her fear of the man sitting next to her. She climbed into the spacious back seat of the SUV, pulling the heavy door shut behind her. The sound of the rain was instantly muted by the thick, bulletproof glass.
"What's wrong with her?" Maya asked, immediately sliding across the leather seat toward Sophia.
"She started panicking the moment we left the restaurant," Dante said, running a hand through his dark wavy hair. He looked completely out of his depth, his pale gray eyes reflecting a profound, agonizing vulnerability. "She won't let me touch her. She won't let me calm her down."
Maya unbuckled her wet raincoat and tossed it aside. She leaned over the car seat, keeping her movements slow and predictable.
"Sophia?" Maya whispered gently. "Hey, sweetie. It's Maya. Remember me?"
Sophia’s large brown eyes darted toward Maya. The little girl’s breathing was ragged, her chest heaving. She reached her small, trembling hands out toward Maya.
Maya immediately unbuckled the child from the seat and pulled her into her lap. She wrapped her arms around Sophia, holding her securely against her chest. Maya began to hum a soft, rhythmic lullaby, gently rocking the little girl back and forth.
"You're okay," Maya murmured, resting her chin on top of Sophia's brown curls. "I've got you. We're just going for a ride in the rain. You're completely safe."
Dante sat in the darkness, watching the incredible transformation. Within minutes, Sophia’s hyperventilating slowed. Her small hands gripped the fabric of Maya’s white blouse, and she buried her face in Maya’s shoulder. The panic attack subsided, replaced by the heavy, exhausting sleep of a traumatized child.
Dante let out a long, shuddering breath, resting his head back against the leather seat.
"Thank you," Dante whispered, the words sounding foreign and difficult for him to say.
May you like
"She’s terrified of cars," Maya noted quietly, not looking up from the sleeping child in her arms. "Because of what she saw."
"Yes," Dante agreed, his voice turning cold and dangerous again. The SUV pulled out of the alley, accelerating smoothly into the rainy New York streets. "And she is terrified because she knows who was driving it."
