Chapter 4 - The Betrayal at the Estate
The rain returned to Chicago that night with a vengeance, slamming against the glass windows of the Moretti estate like a barrage of tiny needles.
It was 2:00 AM.
Meline couldn't sleep. She sat near the window in her suite, wrapped in a plush robe, staring out at the dark driveway. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the intense, burning look Alessandro had given her in her office, feeling the ghost of his warm hand lingering on her cheek.
She was falling for him. She knew it was dangerous—he was a powerful, lethal man whose world was filled with violence and secret wars. But beneath the cold, terrifying facade of the Mafia Don, she had seen a man of profound honor, a man who loved his father fiercely and protected those who were loyal to him.
Suddenly, a strange metallic click echoed from the corridor outside her suite.
Meline froze, sitting up straight.
The east wing was supposed to be completely secure, guarded by Alessandro’s private security detail. She slowly stood up, slipping on her shoes, and stepped toward the heavy oak door of her suite. She pulled it open an inch, peering out into the dimly lit hallway.
Standing near the private elevator at the end of the hall was a figure in a dark raincoat.
The figure was holding a heavy master keycard, unlocking the door to Alessandro’s private study—the room where all the high-level financial ledgers, shipping contracts, and syndicate security codes were kept.
Meline’s blood ran cold. The traitor.
The figure pulled open the door and slipped inside the dark study.
Meline knew she should go back into her room, lock the door, and hide. She was just a household manager, not a security guard. But the thought of someone betraying Alessandro, someone stealing the secrets that could destroy his family and put his life in danger, filled her with a sudden, fierce courage.
She slipped quietly into the hallway, keeping her back pressed against the wall, her heart pounding violently in her chest. She reached the open door of Alessandro’s study and peeked inside.
The figure was standing by the large wall safe hidden behind the painting, using a high-tech hand scanner to bypass the digital lock. The dim light from the monitor illuminated the person's face.
Meline gasped softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
It was Victor—Alessandro’s chief financial accountant, a man who had lived on the estate for five years and ate dinner with Giovanni every week.
Victor spun around instantly, pulling a silenced firearm from his coat, training it directly on Meline’s chest.
“Well, well,” Victor sneered, his voice low and dripping with malice. “The fat little maid who thinks she runs the estate now.”
Meline stood her ground, forcing her voice to remain steady despite the gun pointed at her heart. “Alessandro knows about the dock shipment, Victor. He knows someone leaked the schedule.”
Victor let out a cold, arrogant laugh. “Alessandro is currently busy dealing with a fake fire at the North Port docks. By the time he realizes it was a distraction, I’ll have the hard drives containing the entire Moretti network offshore, and the Vance family will pay me fifty million dollars.”
Victor took two steps toward her, leveling the firearm at her head. “It’s a shame, really. Alessandro seemed quite fond of you. But you just walked into the wrong room at the wrong time.”
Meline’s mind raced. She looked at the heavy brass floor lamp standing beside her right hand.
“You betray a family that fed you for five years?” Meline asked, stepping closer to the lamp, keeping his eyes on her face.
“In this business, loyalty is for fools,” Victor sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger. “Goodnight, Meline—”
Before he could pull the trigger, Meline grabbed the heavy brass lamp with both hands and swung it with all the physical strength in her broad, powerful frame!
CRACK!
The heavy metal base of the lamp struck Victor’s wrist with brutal force! He screamed in pain as his firearm went flying across the carpet, skidding under the heavy oak desk.
Victor lunged at her in rage, but Meline didn't back down. She used her height and her momentum to slam her shoulder directly into his chest, sending the accountant crashing violently against the glass bookshelf! Books and crystal awards rained down on him as he collapsed onto the floor, dazed and bleeding from his forehead.
Meline immediately threw her weight onto his back, pinning his arms behind him with the heavy brass lamp base, pressing her knee into his spine.
“Get off me, you crazy bitch!” Victor shrieked, struggling frantically, but Meline’s grip was unyielding.
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the study were thrown wide open with violent force.
Alessandro stormed into the room, flanked by Marco and four armed guards, their weapons drawn.
Alessandro froze in complete, utter shock at the scene before him: his chief accountant pinned face-down on the rug, bleeding and screaming, while Meline sat atop him, holding a broken brass lamp over his head like a warrior.
“Meline?!” Alessandro shouted, rushing across the room, his heart leaping into his throat.
“He has the safe codes on a flash drive in his pocket!” Meline called out, her voice clear and strong. “He was working for the Vance family!”
Marco immediately dropped to his knees, ripping the flash drive from Victor’s pocket and clicking steel handcuffs around his wrists, dragging the traitorous accountant out of the room.
Alessandro didn't look at Victor. He didn't look at the safe. He lunged forward, grabbing Meline by her shoulders, lifting her up from the floor, pulling her violently into his broad arms, holding her so tightly against his chest she could feel the frantic, terrified pounding of his heart.
“My God, Meline...” Alessandro choked out, his voice shaking with pure, unadulterated terror. “Are you hurt?! Did he shoot you?!”
Meline wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in his warm shoulder. “I’m okay, Alessandro... I’m okay.”
Alessandro pulled back slightly, his dark eyes wide with shock, admiration, and an intense, overwhelming love that could no longer be contained. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, looking at her as if she were a miracle standing in front of him.
“You fought him...” Alessandro whispered, marveling at her. “You protected my home...”
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“I protected our home, Alessandro,” Meline corrected softly, tears of relief spilling over her lashes.
Alessandro didn't hesitate for another second. He pulled her toward him and captured her lips in a deep, passionate, breathtaking kiss that sent a wave of absolute heat through both their souls.
