Chapter 4 - The Estate of Shadows
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The ride to the Rosselli estate was a masterclass in suffocating silence. I sat in the back of the armored SUV, staring out the tinted windows as the city lights gave way to the sprawling, forested estates of the North Shore. Dante sat across from me, his face illuminated only by the glow of his phone as he read through endless encrypted messages.
We pulled through a set of massive wrought-iron gates that looked like they belonged to a fortress, not a home. The estate was terrifyingly beautiful—a sprawling limestone mansion surrounded by acres of perfectly manicured lawns and high stone walls. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter with tactical precision, completely unbothered by the freezing rain.
"Welcome to your new cage," I muttered under my breath.
Dante’s eyes flicked up from his phone, catching my remark. "It is not a cage, Alina. It is a sanctuary. As long as you follow my rules, you will be the most protected woman in this city."
"And if I break them?" I challenged, crossing my arms.
"Then you will learn exactly why they call me a monster," he replied smoothly, the dragon tattoo on his neck flexing as he turned his head.
We stepped out of the vehicle and were immediately greeted by the estate's staff. They stood in a perfect, disciplined line in the grand foyer. They did not smile. They did not whisper. They looked at me with a mixture of intense curiosity and veiled hostility.
An older woman with severe gray hair stepped forward. "Mr. Rosselli. The nursery is prepared. Leo is currently asleep."
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"Take Miss Valdez to her quarters," Dante instructed, handing his heavy wool coat to a waiting butler. "She will have unrestricted access to the east wing. If she needs anything, provide it. If anyone disrespects her, I will personally handle their termination."
The staff nodded in unison. I followed the older woman up a winding marble staircase, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm. I was deep inside the mafia king's lair, and the scariest part wasn't the armed guards or the locked doors. The scariest part was how much I desperately wanted to see the baby again.
