Chapter 6 - Dawn Over the Castello Estate
The first pale streaks of gray dawn were filtering through the wrought-iron gates of the Castello estate when the Maybach rolled back up the circular driveway.
The rain had stopped, leaving the cobblestones glistening under the amber glow of the courtyard lanterns. Carmine handled the car doors with quiet efficiency, while Victor stepped out first, stretching his broad shoulders before turning back to offer his hand as Sadi climbed out of the backseat.
She hesitated for a moment, looking down at her hand before placing her fingertips lightly against his palm. His grip was warm, solid, and utterly secure.
"Your brother’s doctors have been replaced," Victor said as they walked up the grand marble steps toward the heavy oak double doors of the mansion. "The best pediatric specialists in the country are flying in from Johns Hopkins this morning. The medical bills are settled in perpetuity. You don't ever have to worry about a single machine failing again."
Sadi stopped at the top of the steps, turning to face him in the cold morning light. Her eyes were exhausted, shadowed by sleeplessness and emotional shock, but for the first time in eight months, the terror that had governed her life was entirely gone.
"Why, Mr. Costello?" she asked softly, the question hanging between them in the quiet air. "You’re the most feared man in New York. You run syndicates, ports, and half the city council. Why go to all this trouble for a maid?"
Victor looked down at her, his stormy gray eyes softening into something deeply intense. He stepped closer, closing the distance between them until she could feel the heat radiating off his chest.
"Because, Sadi," Victor said, his voice dropping into a low, resonant rumble that sent a shiver straight down her spine. "In a world built on lies, betrayal, and people who sell out their own soul for twenty thousand dollars, you bled your hands dry scrubbing my floors just to keep your brother alive with absolute, unbreakable dignity."
He reached out, his large, calloused thumb gently brushing against the cracked knuckles of her right hand, tracing the raw, red skin with a tenderness that completely belied his ruthless reputation.
"You thought you were invisible in this house," Victor continued quietly. "I saw you from the very first day you walked through those gates. And tonight... I laid claim to what was already mine."
May you like
Sadi’s breath caught in her throat. The city behind them was waking up, but inside the perimeter of the Castello estate, the world had changed completely.
"You aren't scrubbing floors anymore," Victor added, turning her hand over and pressing his lips softly against her wrist. "As of today, you stand beside me. Let the whole city talk."
