Chapter 5 - Shadows in the Kitchen
The transition from maid to guardian was not smooth.
While Luca was thrilled to have Samantha beside him, the rest of the mansion’s staff looked at her with a mix of envy and suspicion. In the kitchens and the laundry rooms, whispers followed her like a bad smell. They called her an opportunist. They said she had probably pushed the boy in herself just to play the hero.
Samantha ignored them, focusing entirely on the four-year-old boy who had become her shadow.
"Build a big tower, Sam!" Luca laughed, handing her a blue plastic block as they sat on the thick Persian rug in the grand playroom.
"Only if you promise to help me put the red roof on," Samantha smiled, her heart warming as she watched his cheerful, healthy face.
The double doors of the playroom opened, and Russo stepped inside, his expression unusually grim. "Samantha. The Don wants to see you in the study. Now."
Samantha’s smile vanished. She patted Luca’s head. "Play with your blocks for a minute, Luca. I’ll be right back."
The study of Anthony Pellagrini was a dark, masculine room of leather and old books, the air smelling heavily of scotch and cigar smoke. When Samantha entered, she found Anthony standing by the window, his hand resting on the shoulder of a young man who was kneeling on the floor, his face bruised and bleeding.
It was Toby, one of the junior security guards who had been assigned to the back gate on the day of Luca’s accident.
"Tell her what you told me, Toby," Anthony said, his voice a low, vibrating growl of anger.
"I... I didn't mean to, Ms. Wells!" the young guard sobbed, his eyes swollen shut. "The Moretti family... they took my sister! They said they would kill her if I didn't leave the back gate unlocked for five minutes! They were the ones who paid the nanny!"
Samantha backed away, her hands flying to her mouth. "The Morettis... they tried to kidnap Luca?"
"They wanted leverage," Anthony said, walking over to his desk and picking up a silver letter opener, turning it over in his hand. "They wanted to force me to sign over the eastern shipping docks. And they almost succeeded because this boy decided his family was worth more than mine."
"Anthony, please," Samantha said, her voice trembling as she looked at the bleeding guard. "He was trying to save his sister. You of all people should understand that."
Anthony paused, his dark eyes locking onto hers. The use of his first name seemed to strike him, his expression hardening. "In my world, Samantha, loyalty is the only currency that matters. If you steal from me, you pay with your life."
"Then you are a monster," Samantha said, stepping between him and the kneeling guard. "He’s a boy! If you kill him, you are no better than the people who tried to take Luca!"
The room went dead silent. Russo, standing by the door, held his breath, expecting Anthony to unleash his legendary fury on the defiant maid.
Instead, Anthony slowly set the letter opener down. He walked over to Samantha, his massive frame towering over her, his dark eyes searching her face with an intensity that made her breath catch.
"You have a lot of courage, Samantha," Anthony whispered, his fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "More than most of the men who carry guns for me. Russo."
"Yes, Boss?"
"Take Toby to the safe house. Get his sister back from the Morettis. Once they are safe, send them both out of the state. If I ever see him in Connecticut again, he won't walk away."
Toby gasped with relief, sobbing as Russo dragged him out of the room.
May you like
Samantha stood frozen, her heart hammering as she looked at the mafia boss. "Why did you listen to me?"
Anthony leaned down, his lips brushing her temple with a sudden, breathtaking warmth. "Because you are the only person in this house who doesn't look at me and see a monster, Samantha. You look at me and see a father. And for that... I will give you anything you ask."
