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The heavy brass revolving doors of the Corven Tower spun slowly, letting in a bitter gust of Manhattan winter wind that smelled of sleet and exhaust. / Chapter 9 / 20

Chapter 9 - The Unbreakable Bond

By 3:00 AM, Dominic was back in the penthouse. He washed the smell of rain and gunsmoke from his hands, changed into a clean shirt, and walked quietly down the dimly lit corridor toward the girls' bedroom.

The door was cracked open. A soft nightlight cast a warm, amber glow across the room.

Nora was fast asleep in her bed, clutching a stuffed rabbit Dominic had bought her during a trip to Milan. Ella had rolled sideways, her arm draped over the edge of the mattress, snoring softly.

Dominic walked inside, stepping soundlessly across the plush rug. He gently lifted Ella's arm back onto the bed and pulled the duvet over her shoulders.

As he turned to leave, a sleepy voice whispered from the darkness.

"Are you leaving again, Uncle Dominic?"

Dominic stopped. He turned back to see Nora blinking sleepily against the light, her green eyes looking up at him with total, unconditional trust—the kind of trust he had never known in his entire life of betrayal and bloodshed.

He walked back to her bedside, sat down on the edge of the mattress, and stroked her dark curls.

"No, sweetie," Dominic said, his voice softening into something entirely human. "I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."

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The mahogany grandfather clock in the east corridor struck 2:03 AM. The champagne glasses had been cleared, the jazz band had packed their instruments, and the last of the high-society guests had vanished into the freezing Manhattan night, leaving behind the heavy scent of expensive perfume and melted candlewax.

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The wail of police sirens tore through the heavy silence of the Hawthorne estate, cutting across the manicured lawns like a blade. Mara remained frozen on her side near the base of the grand staircase, her breath shallow, her hands trembling against the floorboards. She could hear the frantic pounding of heavy shoes racing up the drive, followed by the metallic click of car doors slamming shut. They were here.

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Nora yawned, satisfied, and closed her eyes. "Good. Because we have a pancake contest tomorrow, and you promised to be the judge."

Dominic smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

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