Chapter 19 - THE FAMILY DINNERTitle: Mafia Rules Meet Sisterly Chaos: The Ultimate Family Reunion
The private dining room—completely repaired, featuring brand-new floor-to-ceiling glass windows and custom mahogany walls—was filled with an eccentric, high-stakes energy that the Dantis estate had never experienced before.
At the head of the table sat Aleandro, looking entirely out of his element as Chloe Harper enthusiastically grilled him across a spread of truffle risotto and braised short ribs.
"So, let me get this straight," Chloe said, waving a forkful of focaccia in the air as she leaned forward. "You're a terrifying New York crime lord who controls half the shipping ports on the East Coast, but you let my sister talk you into building a multi-million-dollar heated canine spa?"
Aleandro took a slow, deliberate sip of his Barolo wine, his dark eyes flickering toward Daisy before returning to her skeptical younger sister. "Your sister doesn't just talk people into things, Chloe. She dismantles empires with a spreadsheet and a smile. Building a dog spa was the easiest negotiation of my career."
Daisy blushed crimson, kicking Aleandro gently under the table. "Stop exaggerating, Aleandro. You're making me sound like a supervillain."
"You are a supervillain," Chloe laughed brightly, taking a sip of sparkling water. "Just a very fluffy one. Honestly, Daisy, when I got your letter saying you moved into a private estate with a billionaire security contractor, I thought you were working as a maid."
"A maid?" Salvatore muttered quietly from his post near the door, shaking his head. "She runs the entire estate, Miss Harper. The boss checks his tie with her every morning."
Chloe’s eyes widened as she looked at Aleandro, then back to Daisy. A slow, knowing grin spread across her face. "Well, I have to admit. The estate beats our old apartment in Queens by a mile. Especially the heated floors in the dog wing."
Aleandro’s lips twitched into a genuine, relaxed smile—a rare expression that only Daisy and her rescue crew ever got to see. He reached across the table, taking Daisy’s hand and lacing his fingers securely through hers.
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"Welcome to the family, Chloe," Aleandro said quietly, his voice carrying absolute sincerity. "Nobody leaves this house hungry, and nobody ever messes with anyone in this bloodline."
Barnaby let out a loud, approving bark from beneath the table, resting his heavy chin across Chloe’s shoes, cementing his final seal of approval.
