Chapter 10 - A Sanctuary Built on Marble
One year later.
The autumn wind off the Hudson River was cool and sweet, carrying the crisp scent of burning cedar and fallen maple leaves.
The back garden of Villa Duca was no longer a cold, shadowy place where shadows went to die.
Near the stone wall where the old hydrangeas grew, a massive wooden playground had been built—complete with two brass slides, a treehouse, and a carpet of soft, clean wood chips.
Four-year-old Mia was running across the grass in a bright red sweater, her dark curls bouncing in the sunlight. In her hand, she held a brand-new stuffed rabbit—this one with two shiny glass eyes—though the old, one-eyed rabbit still sat proudly in a small velvet pouch attached to her backpack.
Chasing behind her was Pino, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, letting the little girl win every race as they circled the garden path.
Sitting on a marble bench nearby was Elena, holding a tablet as she reviewed the estate’s annual charity gala budget with Marco, who was now smiling and laughing easily.
Walking down the gravel path toward the garden was Lorenzo Duca.
He had dropped his dark suit jacket onto a garden chair. His sleeves were rolled up, his dark eyes warm as he watched the little girl laugh in the autumn light.
Mia stopped running, turned around, and pointed a small, finger toward him.
“Mr. Lorenzo!” she called out, her voice ringing clear and bright across the garden. “You’re late for tea!”
Lorenzo stopped beside the marble bench, looking down at the child who had walked into his dark life on a rainy afternoon twelve months ago.
“I was in a meeting in the east wing,” Lorenzo said gravely. “Very important business.”
“More important than tea with rabbit?” Mia demanded, crossing her arms with mock sternness.
Lorenzo dropped down onto one knee in the wet leaves—careless of his trousers, careless of his boots—until his eyes were level with hers.
“Nothing in this house is more important than tea with you, Mia,” Lorenzo said softly.
He held out his hand. Palm open. Patient.
Mia didn't hesitate for a single second. She dropped her small, warm hand directly into his massive palm, wrapping her tiny fingers around his thumb.
Lorenzo lifted her gently onto his shoulder, where she rested her chin against his neck, breathing in the familiar scent of cedar, rain, and coffee.
Pino fell in beside them, his heavy tail wagging slowly as the three of them walked toward the warm, glowing doors of the house.
The bad men were gone.
May you like
The storm had passed.
And inside the stone walls of Villa Duca, a mafia boss had finally found something worth defending with his life—not an empire of blood and iron, but the sound of a child’s laughter in a peaceful garden.
