Chapter 7 - Lily's Court
While the adult world waged war, Lily had conquered the Vargas estate. The little girl, completely unfazed by the heavily armed men patrolling the halls, treated the mafia enforcers like her personal playmates.
Dante, a man who had broken kneecaps for a living, was currently sitting on the floor of the library, awkwardly holding a plastic teacup.
"You have to stick your pinky out, Mr. Dante," Lily instructed, pouring imaginary tea from a plastic pink pot. "It's polite."
Dante grunted, extending a massive, scarred finger. "Like this, kid?"
"Perfect."
Julian walked past the open library doors and stopped, staring at the bizarre scene. Silvio stood next to him, suppressing a smirk.
"She's taking over the crew, boss," Silvio whispered. "Marco was helping her find bugs in the garden yesterday. I think she’s softening us up."
Julian watched as Lily giggled at something Dante said. The cold, sterile mansion was suddenly filled with light and laughter. It reminded him of what he had lost. It reminded him of the life he and Isabella had dreamed of before the violence took her.
Clara walked up beside him, wiping flour from her apron. She followed his gaze and smiled softly. "She adores your men. I hope they don't mind."
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"They would walk through fire for her," Julian said truthfully. He turned to look at Clara, the morning sunlight catching the red highlights in her auburn hair. "And so would I."
Clara looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. The intensity in his eyes was undeniable. The frozen fortress around Julian’s heart was melting, and Clara knew she was standing right in the center of the thaw.
