Chapter 3 - THE VIPER IN SILK
Roman stood up smoothly, his gentle demeanor vanishing in an instant, replaced by the terrifying, cold authority of the Don of Chicago. He stepped between Pamela and the intruder, his massive frame completely shielding Pamela and the babies.
"Lady Valentina," Roman said, his voice as sharp as a razor blade. "You enter my home unannounced at eleven o'clock at night. You have three seconds to give me a reason why I shouldn't have Marco drag you out by your hair."
Lady Valentina Vance—the younger sister of Roman’s late wife, Isabella, and the heiress to the Vance syndicate—flinched slightly under Roman's murderous glare, but quickly gathered her composure, sneering over his shoulder at Pamela.
"I came here because your security detail informed my father that you canceled the alliance meeting tonight!" Valentina snapped, crossing her arms. "Father is furious, Roman! The Moretti family is moving into our territory on the West Side, and instead of signing the war pact, you're playing house with a common servant!"
"My family affairs are none of your father's concern, Valentina," Roman said coldly. "And this 'servant' is Pamela Hayes. She is the new head caregiver for my children."
Valentina let out a shrill, mocking laugh. "Caregiver?! She looks like she just crawled out of a soup kitchen! Look at her clothes! Look at her!"
Valentina stepped forward, pointing a manicured red fingernail at Pamela. "I am their aunt, Roman! My blood runs in their veins! I have offered to marry you for a year, to raise Isabella's children as my own, and you reject me for this... this cheap street beggar?!"
GROWL.
The sudden, dark sound didn't come from Roman.
It came from little Leo.
The chubby fourteen-month-old toddler stood up in the playpen, holding onto the wooden rail, his small brows furrowed in rage as he glared directly at Valentina.
"Bad lady!" Leo yelled, his tiny voice ringing clear through the room. "Bad!"
Valentina’s mouth fell open in absolute shock. "What... what did that brat just say to me?!"
Maya and Luca immediately stood up beside their brother, clinging to Pamela's legs.
"Go away!" Maya screamed, pointing her small finger at Valentina. "Go away, bad lady!"
"Mama!" Luca whimpered, burying his face in Pamela's skirt. "Mama, hold!"
Valentina looked as if she had been slapped across the face with an iron frying pan. Her pale skin turned blotchy with red rage. "They... they're speaking? They haven't spoken a word in a year, and now they're calling me bad?!"
"They appear to have excellent judgment," Pamela said smoothly, standing up from the floor with Luca held securely against her hip.
Though her heart was hammering from the confrontation, Pamela stood tall, her broad, voluptuous figure radiating a calm, unshakeable strength. She held Valentina’s furious gaze without flinching.
"Children can sense cruelty from a mile away, Miss Vance," Pamela continued, her voice soft but filled with unyielding steel. "And right now, you're scaring them. I suggest you leave before Don Costello loses his patience."
"You arrogant little bitch!" Valentina shrieked, taking a wild step forward with her hand raised to strike Pamela across the face.
CLUTCH!
Before Valentina’s hand could even come close, Roman caught her wrist in mid-air. His grip was so tight that the diamond bracelets on Valentina’s wrist rattled violently against her bone.
"AAGH! Roman, you're hurting me!" Valentina cried out, her face twisting in pain.
"If you ever raise a hand toward this woman or my children again, Valentina," Roman whispered into her ear, his silver eyes flashing with pure, lethal promise, "I will not care that you are Isabella's sister. I will bury you in the lake behind this house."
He shoved her back forcefully. Valentina stumbled, catching herself against the doorframe, gasping for air as she clutched her bruised wrist.
"Marco!" Roman roared.
The heavy door swung open instantly. Marco and two armed guards stepped into the room.
"Escort Lady Valentina off the property," Roman ordered coldly. "And inform Don Victor Vance that if any member of his family sets foot on my land without an invitation, it will be treated as an act of war."
"Understood, Don Costello," Marco said grimly, grabbing Valentina firmly by the arm.
"You'll regret this, Roman!" Valentina screamed as she was dragged down the corridor. "She’s a nobody! She's hiding something! I will destroy her!"
The heavy mahogany doors slammed shut, plunging the nursery back into relative silence.
Pamela let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, hugging little Luca tightly against her chest. She looked at Roman, expecting him to be furious about the ruined alliance, but instead, she found him staring at her with an intense, burning admiration that made her skin tingle.
"You stood up to the heiress of the Vance family," Roman murmured, walking over to her. He reached out, gently taking Luca from her arms and setting the sleepy toddler back into the playpen alongside his brother and sister.
"I stood up for the children," Pamela corrected softly, smoothing down her skirt. "No one talks to innocent babies like that. I don't care who her father is."
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Roman smiled—a genuine, breathtaking smile that transformed his severe, handsome face, showing a glimpse of the warm, passionate man hidden deep beneath the mob boss's armor.
"You really are extraordinary, Pamela," Roman said softly. He stepped closer, his large hand reaching out to gently tuck a dark lock of hair behind her ear. His thumb brushed against her cheek, lingering there, sending waves of intense heat straight through her veins. "Welcome to the family."
