Chapter 11 - The Reunion
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The iron gates of the Moretti estate swung open, allowing the black SUV to glide smoothly up the cobblestone drive. The storm had broken, leaving the mansion bathed in the pale, cold light of dawn.
Aleandro didn't wake Elena. He carefully carried her out of the vehicle and walked through the heavy front doors.
Rosa, the head housekeeper, was waiting in the foyer. When she saw the boss carrying the missing maid in his arms, her hands flew to her mouth in shock.
"Don Aleandro," Rosa gasped, tears springing to her eyes. "She's alive."
"Have the doctor brought to the east guest suite immediately," Aleandro ordered in a hushed tone. "And bring Mia."
He carried Elena not to the cramped servant's quarters, but up the grand staircase to the lavish guest wing reserved exclusively for visiting mafia royalty. He laid her gently on the massive, plush bed, pulling the thick down comforter over her shivering form.
A moment later, the sound of tiny, rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Mia burst into the room, still wearing her faded yellow dress, clutching the stuffed rabbit. She stopped at the foot of the bed, her honey-colored eyes wide as she saw her mother lying there.
"Mommy?" Mia whimpered, dropping the rabbit.
Elena stirred at the sound of the voice. Her eyes fluttered open. Despite her exhaustion, the moment she saw her daughter, a surge of adrenaline forced her upright.
"Mia!" Elena cried out, her arms reaching forward.
The little girl scrambled up onto the massive bed, throwing herself into her mother's embrace. They clung to each other, sobbing fiercely, a tangled mess of tears and profound, unbreakable love.
Aleandro stood in the doorway, watching them. The cold, impenetrable fortress he had built around his heart finally shattered completely. He realized that the immense wealth, the power, and the fear he commanded meant absolutely nothing compared to the raw, beautiful reality of a mother holding her child.
He quietly stepped backward, pulling the heavy oak door shut, giving them the privacy they deserved.
Marco was waiting in the hallway, his face grim.
"The doctor is on his way up, Boss," Marco said. "And Silvio has returned to the estate. He is currently waiting in the dining room, demanding to know why his men were pulled from the Russian stakeout."
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Aleandro’s expression shifted instantly. The tender protector vanished, replaced by the apex predator. His gray eyes turned into pits of absolute, freezing murder.
"Secure the perimeter, Marco," Aleandro commanded softly. "Lock the dining room doors. Silvio’s meeting with the Russians is officially over. Now, he meets with me."
