Chapter 4 - The Unseen Enemy
Two weeks passed since the dramatic confrontation in the grand foyer.
Life inside the Duca estate had changed completely for Maria and little Lily.
They no longer slept in the cramped, freezing servant quarters in the basement.
Lorenzo had moved them into a massive, sunlit suite right next to his own master bedroom.
Every morning, Lorenzo would delay his criminal empire's operations just to eat pancakes with Lily.
The ruthless mafia boss who terrified the entire underworld was now wearing plastic tiaras at a tiny tea party table.
Maria watched these moments from the doorway, feeling her heart slowly melt for this dangerous man.
She saw the kindness hiding behind his deadly reputation.
However, outside the heavily guarded walls of the estate, a massive storm was brewing.
The Rossi family could not accept the public humiliation of the cancelled wedding contract.
They had started secretly buying off corrupt cops and hiring foreign mercenaries.
They wanted to destroy Lorenzo Duca and take over his lucrative ports and shipping routes.
Lorenzo's spies brought him whispers of an upcoming assassination attempt.
He doubled the guards around the mansion and ordered Maria to never leave the property.
"You are mine to protect now," Lorenzo told her one night in the library, standing dangerously close to her.
Maria looked up at his handsome, serious face and felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I trust you, Lorenzo," she whispered softly.
May you like
He leaned in, his lips brushing gently against her forehead.
The sweet moment was violently interrupted by the sound of Marco's heavy boots running down the hall.
