Chapter 8
The magnitude of Dominic's offer hung in the air of the brightly lit study. Elena sat completely frozen on the leather sofa, her mind reeling. She had walked into the dining room an hour ago as a terrified servant, expecting to be fired or worse for bleeding on the pristine linens. Now, the most powerful and dangerous man in the city was offering her a position of profound trust and authority within his own home.
"Mr. Vale..." Elena began, her voice barely a whisper, completely overwhelmed. "I am just a maid. I don't have the qualifications to be a governess or a security guardian."
"Qualifications are paper," Dominic dismissed, his deep voice rumbling with quiet intensity. "Loyalty and courage are blood. You proved you have both. My men can teach you whatever physical skills you need to know when your hand heals. But I cannot teach someone to care for my child the way you did tonight."
Elena looked down at her bandaged hand. The throbbing pain was a stark reminder of the violence she had just endured, but it also ignited a small, fierce spark of pride in her chest. She had stopped Audrey. She had protected Lily.
"Miss Sinclair’s family..." Elena hesitated, looking back up at Dominic's handsome, angular face. "They are very powerful. Won't they retaliate? Will Lily be safe?"
A dark, dangerous shadow crossed Dominic’s perceptive eyes. The protective father vanished for a fraction of a second, replaced by the ruthless mafia boss.
"Let me worry about Arthur Sinclair," Dominic said, his voice dropping into a lethal, icy register. "He knows better than to cross the border into my territory. But if he chooses to be foolish, I will bury him. Lily will be entirely safe within these walls. And so will you."
Elena searched his eyes. She saw the violence he was capable of, but for the first time, she saw it directed outward, acting as an impenetrable shield rather than a threat. She took a slow, deep breath, steadying her nerves.
"Okay," Elena said softly, a new, quiet strength blooming in her voice. "I will stay, Mr. Vale. I will watch over her."
Dominic let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. The tension in his broad shoulders eased slightly. "Thank you, Elena."
He stood up, adjusting his tailored vest. "I will have the staff move your belongings from the servant quarters into the suite adjacent to Lily's room tonight. You are to rest. Tomorrow, after your surgery, we will discuss your new compensation and responsibilities."
"There is one thing I need to do first, sir," Elena said, slowly pushing herself up from the deep leather sofa. She cradled her bandaged hand carefully. "I need to see Lily. I need to tell her I'm not leaving. She saw Audrey hurt me. She might think it was her fault."
Dominic looked at the young woman, deeply moved by her profound, instinctive empathy for his child. He nodded slowly.
"Come with me," Dominic said.
He led her out of the study and up the grand, sweeping staircase. The mansion was quiet now, the chaotic energy of the dinner party completely scrubbed away. They walked down the plush, carpeted hallway toward the east wing.
Standing like a stone statue outside a heavy, white door was Silas, Dominic’s massive lieutenant.
"Status," Dominic asked quietly.
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"She’s been crying, Boss," Silas reported, his voice low. "The nanny tried to read her a story, but she won't calm down. She keeps asking for the lady who got hurt."
Dominic turned and looked at Elena. He reached out and gently pushed the heavy white door open, stepping aside to let the former housemaid enter the room first.
