Chapter 13 - The Golden CageA week passed, and the estate slowly returned to a state of heavy, armed normalcy.
Dante recovered with terrifying speed, his physical strength matching his iron willpower.
The traitorous underboss had fled the city, leaving a dangerous power vacuum in the syndicate.
Dante called a massive meeting of the five mafia families to assert his dominance.
He found Clara in the library, reading a book to Julian by the fire.
“Clara, we need to talk,” Dante said, his tone purely professional.
Julian scampered off to play with his toys in the corner.
“The heads of the families are arriving tonight,” Dante explained, pacing the floor.
“They smell weakness because of the betrayal.”
“They will demand to know who you are and why a civilian is living in my fortress.”
Clara closed her book, a knot forming in her stomach.
“Tell them I am Julian’s private nurse.”
Dante shook his head, his jaw tightening.
“A nurse is expendable, Clara. They will use you as leverage to test me.”
“There is only one position in our world that commands absolute, untouchable respect.”
He walked over to her, pulling a small black velvet box from his suit pocket.
Clara stopped breathing entirely.
He opened the box to reveal a massive, flawless emerald-cut diamond ring.
“You need to pretend to be my fiancée,” Dante declared.
“It is the only way I can guarantee your absolute safety.”
Clara stared at the glittering diamond, feeling the steel trap of the underworld closing entirely around her.
“Fake engagement?” she whispered.
May you like
“Just until the traitor is found and the families back down,” he promised.
But they both knew there was nothing fake about the way they looked at each other.
