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HE SAW THE BRUISE SHE TRIED TO HIDE—AND THE WHOLE EMPIRE KNEW CHASE WAS A DEAD MAN WALKING! / Chapter 4 / 10

Chapter 4 - A GOLDEN CAGE OR A SAFE HAVEN? KATARINA'S FIRST NIGHT UNDER THE MAFIA BOSS'S ROOF!

The Servino estate was nestled deep within the rolling hills of Gladwyne, surrounded by high stone walls, security cameras, and a pair of wrought-iron gates that looked capable of stopping a tank.

Katarina sat in the back of Vittorio’s armored limousine, her eyes wide as they pulled up the long, winding driveway. The mansion was a stunning piece of classic Italian architecture, lit by golden floodlights that made the stone glow against the dark rainy night.

Vittorio didn't speak during the entire ride. He sat opposite her, his eyes fixed on his phone, typing out commands to his captains. But every few minutes, his gaze would shift to her, checking on her with a quiet intensity that she didn't know how to interpret.

When the car stopped, the door was opened by a polite older man in a butler's uniform.

"Welcome back, Don Vittorio," the man said, bowing slightly.

"Thank you, Marco," Vittorio said, stepping out of the car. He turned and offered his hand to Katarina, helping her step onto the dry pavement. "This is Miss Aiello. She will be staying with us indefinitely. Prepare the East Wing suite."

"Immediately, sir."

Katarina followed Vittorio through the grand entrance. The interior of the mansion was breathtaking—soaring ceilings, marble floors, and priceless Renaissance paintings hanging on the walls. It was a world of unimaginable wealth and power, but to Katarina, it felt incredibly intimidating.

"Mr. Servino," she said, her voice echoing in the vast foyer. "I can't stay here. I don't belong in a place like this. I can find a hotel—"

"You are not safe in a hotel, Katarina," Vittorio said, turning to face her. He unbuttoned his wool coat, revealing the holster of his sleek black pistol strapped to his side. He didn't try to hide it. "Chase is a coward, but a cornered animal is unpredictable. Until I am certain he has left the state, you remain here."

He stepped closer, his presence commanding her full attention. "This is not a prison. You are free to move about the house and the gardens. But you will not leave the gates without Enzo or myself. Do you understand?"

Katarina looked down at her hands, the reality of her situation sinking in. She had escaped one controlling man only to walk directly into the fortress of another—a man who ruled an entire criminal empire with an iron fist.

"Why are you doing this for me?" she asked, her voice cracking. "I'm just your assistant."

Vittorio reached out, his warm fingers gently lifting her chin once more. He looked deep into her eyes, his expression softer than she had ever seen it.

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Dr. Mercer looked down at the ultrasound monitor, her fingers moving with practiced ease over the trackball. The quiet hum of the machine filled the room, punctuated only by the rhythmic, heavy breathing of Dorian Cross standing near the door. He hadn't sat down once. His tall frame cast a long, imposing shadow across the sterile room, hand resting near the button of his suit jacket—a posture born of years of constant vigilance.

Dr. Mercer looked down at the ultrasound monitor, her fingers moving wit...

The ambulance siren wailed in the distance, a rising shriek that cut through the rainy night like a knife. I didn't wait for them. I held Arianne against my chest, feeling the terrifyingly erratic rhythm of her pulse, and bolted down the grand mahogany staircase.

The ambulance siren wailed in the distance, a rising shriek that cut thr...

The heavy cabin door hissed shut behind me, sealing in the scent of expensive cologne, manufactured corporate harmony, and betrayal. As I stepped back onto the sun-baked tarmac of the private aviation terminal, the stifling afternoon heat hit me like a physical blow. Behind the thick, tinted glass of the jet's windows, I could see Carter’s silhouette—his jaw set in that familiar, arrogant angle of a man who believed he had just successfully disciplined a disobedient pet.

The heavy cabin door hissed shut behind me, sealing in the scent of expe...

"Because, Katarina, you are the first person in five years who looked at me and didn't see a monster. You saw a man. And for that, I will burn this entire city to the ground before I let anyone hurt you again."

He released her chin and nodded to a maid who was waiting at the foot of the stairs. "Go rest, Katarina. Tomorrow, we rewrite the rules of your life."

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