Chapter 9 - THE TRUE HEIR
Fear paralyzed me.
Vanessa knew. She had always known about Leo. That was why she was so desperate to force Sofia out and secure her marriage to Luca—she knew a male heir existed out there, threatening her claim.
"Lock down the estate!" Luca roared, springing to his feet. The heartbreak in his eyes was replaced instantly by the lethal, commanding presence of a mafia boss. "Marco's men are done. Call in the loyalists. Nobody gets within a mile of this house!"
He turned to my mother. "Where is Leo right now?"
"He’s at home," she panicked, shaking. "My neighbor, Mrs. Gable, is watching him!"
"Lorenzo," Luca said, his voice turning to ice. "Send your team to that house. If Vanessa touches one hair on my son's head, I won't leave enough of her for a federal prison."
"We're on it," Lorenzo said, pulling his radio and barking coordinates.
Luca grabbed my shoulders. "Emily. Look at me."
I was hyperventilating. "She's going to hurt him. He's just a little boy."
"She will not touch him," Luca said fiercely. "Your father protected my son for six years. I will protect him now."
The next hour was a blur of agonizing waiting. Luca paced the floor. Sofia sat near me, holding my hand, offering quiet comfort. My mother prayed silently in the corner.
Finally, tires screeched in the driveway.
Heavy boots pounded up the steps.
The door swung open.
A federal agent walked in, holding a sleepy, confused six-year-old boy in Spiderman pajamas.
"Leo!" my mother and I screamed at the same time.
I ran forward and snatched him into my arms, burying my face in his neck, sobbing with relief. He was warm. He was safe.
"Emmy, why are you crying?" Leo mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Where are we?"
"We intercepted Vanessa two blocks from your house," Lorenzo said, walking in behind them. "She was heavily armed, but she didn't stand a chance against a twelve-man tactical unit. She's in federal custody. For good this time."
Luca stood frozen in the center of the room.
He stared at the little boy in my arms.
Leo had the exact same messy dark hair, the exact same piercing green eyes as the man looking at him.
I gently set Leo down.
"Leo," I whispered softly. "There's someone who really wants to meet you."
Luca slowly dropped to one knee. He looked like he was afraid to breathe.
"Hello, Leo," Luca choked out.
Leo blinked, looking at the large, intimidating man crying in front of him. Then he looked at Sofia in her wheelchair.
"I like your butterfly," Leo said, pointing to the drawing Sofia was still holding.
Sofia beamed through her tears. "Thank you. I can draw you a Spiderman if you want."
Luca reached out a trembling hand.
Leo, fearless and sweet just like Frank Carter had raised him to be, stepped forward and gave Luca a small, gentle hug.
Luca buried his face in his son's small shoulder, his broad back shaking as years of grief and betrayal finally washed away.
Later that night, the house was quiet. The feds were gone. The bad men were locked away.
I was packing my bag in the guest room. My job here was clearly over. Everything had changed.
The door opened softly. Luca stood there.
"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"I'm leaving, Mr. Moretti," I said, wiping a tear. "You have your family back. You don't need a maid anymore."
Luca walked over and took the suitcase from my hands, tossing it onto the floor.
"I never want you to be a maid again," he said softly, his dark eyes searching mine. "Frank Carter saved my son. You saved my daughter today. Emily... you are the only reason this family is whole."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mother's antique gold pocket watch.
He gently placed it in my palm, closing my fingers over it.
"Stay," Luca whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Stay here. With me. We can rebuild this family. Together."
I looked down at the watch, then up into the eyes of a man who was no longer just my boss.
He was the man I was falling in love with.
May you like
I smiled, tears welling in my eyes.
"I'll stay."
