Chapter 5 - Secrets in the Ledger
By dawn, the Rossi estate looked less like a home and more like a crime scene under military lockdown. Black SUVs idled in the courtyard, and men in tactical gear patrolled every hallway.
I sat in a plush velvet armchair in Lorenzo’s private study on the ground floor. Leo was sleeping peacefully against my shoulder, his breathing steady, his cheeks finally showing a faint hint of healthy color. A blanket was draped over my shoulders, provided by one of the few female household staff members who hadn't been compromised.
The heavy oak door swung open, and Lorenzo walked in. He had changed into a fresh charcoal suit, but the dark circles under his eyes and the subtle tension in his jaw betrayed the toll of the night. He carried a heavy leather-bound ledger and a thick manila folder.
He stopped in front of me, looking down at his son with an expression so tender it was almost unrecognizable on the face of a mafia kingpin.
"The doctor checked him an hour ago," Lorenzo said softly, his voice losing its usual razor-sharp edge when he spoke near the baby. "He said Leo's vitals haven't been this stable in two months. Whatever you're doing... you saved his life."
"My body thinks my daughter is still here," I whispered, looking down at the sleeping infant with a fresh wave of bittersweet ache. "I lost Lily three weeks ago. When I heard him crying, I couldn't just walk away. A mother doesn't unlearn how to feed a baby just because her own arms are empty."
Lorenzo sat down in the leather armchair opposite me, placing the manila folder on the mahogany desk between us.
"I looked into your background tonight, Sarah," Lorenzo said, watching me carefully. "Your ex-boyfriend, Marcus. The debts he owed to Viktor’s syndicate. The staircase fall."
My heart hammered against my ribs. "Are you going to throw me out? Or hand me over to them?"
"Viktor is dead. His body was fed to the harbor, exactly as I promised," Lorenzo replied casually, as if he were discussing the weather. "And Marcus is currently wishing he had never been born in a basement two miles from here. No one will ever touch you again while you are under my roof."
I stared at him in stunned silence. "Why?"
Lorenzo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, locking his dark eyes onto mine. "Because debt is a matter of honor in my world, Sarah. You saved my son’s life. You carry my bloodline in your arms right now. That means your debt is wiped clean, and my debt to you is infinite."
He slid the manila folder across the desk. Inside were legal documents, property deeds, and a bank account statement with an astronomical figure.
"What is this?" I asked, trembling.
"A fresh start," Lorenzo said quietly. "A new identity, a secure home anywhere in the world you want, and enough money to never worry about rent again. You can leave whenever you're ready."
May you like
I looked at the folder, then down at little Leo, who stirred slightly in his sleep and nuzzled closer against my neck. A heavy lump formed in my throat. If I left, my arms would be empty again. The cold, suffocating silence of my rented room would swallow me whole.
"And Leo?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "Who feeds him tomorrow when I'm gone?"
