Chapter 6 - The Unbroken House
"You're making a mistake, Alessandro!" Victor growled, his voice rising in panic as he realized he was completely surrounded. "You're taking the word of a cook and a maid's child over your top earner?!"
"The child has Claire's eyes, Victor," Alessandro said, his voice dropping into a register of pure, unadulterated ice. "And she has her mother's gift for smelling a rat. You killed her father because he wouldn't let your illegal chemical shipments pass through his refinery. And you tried to kill me because you knew I was starting to audit the harbor books."
Alessandro gestured to his men. "Take him. He will face the family court. And make sure he understands what happens to those who try to poison the head of the Duca family."
Victor was dragged out of the library, his curses echoing down the long, marble hallways until the heavy oak doors shut, sealing his fate forever.
The room returned to a quiet, peaceful stillness. The remaining captains looked at Alessandro, their respect and fear for him cemented ten-fold.
Alessandro walked out of the main house, his boots clicking against the stone path as he walked toward the northern cliff guest villa. The morning sun was fully up now, casting a beautiful, golden light across the ocean below.
He stepped onto the porch of the villa.
Sophia was sitting on a wooden bench, watching Emma play in the grass. The little girl was running around with her one-eared rabbit, her laughter bright and clean, completely free of the fear that had haunted her for so long.
When Emma saw Alessandro, she stopped. She didn't run away. Instead, she walked over to him, holding up a small, yellow flower she had plucked from the garden.
"For you, sir," she whispered. "It smells nice."
May you like
Alessandro knelt down on one knee, his expensive suit touching the dirt. He took the flower, a genuine, warm smile finally breaking across his face—the first real smile he had shared in sixteen years.
"Thank you, piccola," Alessandro whispered, tucking the flower into his breast pocket. "You saved my house. And from now on, this house will always protect you."
