Chapter 6 6

Alessa POV

The heavy oak doors clicked shut, sealing Capo Vario's outraged sputtering out in the dimly lit hallway. The suffocating tension that had filled the mahogany-paneled study evaporated in an instant.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and swung my slush-dusted boots off the priceless antique coffee table. Ignoring the man sitting on the throne for a moment, I crossed the deep-red Persian rug straight to my grandfather.

Consigliere Felton Moreno opened his arms, and I buried my face against his tailored wool suit. His rough, calloused hand-a hand that had orchestrated the ruin of countless rival families-gently stroked my hair. For a fleeting second, I wasn't the exiled problem child or the ruthless weapon of the Moreno Family; I was just his granddaughter, soaking in the only genuine, uncalculated warmth this brutal world offered.

"It seems my little lioness only recognizes the old wolf who raised her," Don Alfonzo's deep, oppressive voice rumbled from behind the massive marble desk. "Have you forgotten who gave you the claws to tear your enemies apart?"

I stiffened, the warning in his tone slicing through the comfort of my grandfather's embrace. You didn't ignore the Don, not even for blood.

I immediately pulled away from Felton and turned to face Alfonzo. Walking over to the crystal decanters, I picked up the heavy bottle of his prized Macallan and poured a fresh measure. Approaching his desk, I offered the glass with a sly, calculated smile.

"Never, Don," I purred softly, holding his dark, judging gaze. "I was merely checking if my shield was still sturdy. After all, a sharp sword needs a strong shield to protect it, and they both belong to you-the King of Chicago."

A low, dark chuckle vibrated in Alfonzo's chest. He took the glass, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous mix of pride and absolute ownership. He gestured for me to sit in the plush leather chair nearest to him. The twisted, unbreakable bond of our family had been reaffirmed; I had played the game perfectly.

But the warmth of the predator's den was fleeting. The Don's smile vanished, replaced by the cold, impenetrable mask of a ruler. He took a slow sip of the amber liquid.

"Vario thinks I indulge you too much," he stated, his voice dropping to a serious register. "He thinks you haven't learned the rules. Tell me, Alessa. Did three years in that Sicilian convent teach you how utterly stupid it was to risk a war over a petty squabble?"

I knew my cue. This was the performance he needed to justify his indulgence. I stood up from the chair, lowering my head in a picture-perfect display of submission.

"I reflected every single moment, Don," I said, my voice dripping with manufactured repentance. "My recklessness almost damaged the Family's interests, and for that, I deserve death. I prayed for you and the Family every day in Sicily. If it is your will, I am ready to return and spend the rest of my life within those stone walls to atone for my sins."

Don Alfonzo studied me for a long, agonizing moment. The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace. Finally, he gave a curt nod.

"Good. Your punishment ends here. Go spend some time with your grandfather."

I offered a grateful nod and turned toward Felton, ready to leave the suffocating weight of the study behind. But before I could take a step, the Don's voice sliced through the air, dropping to a freezing, lethal whisper.

"However."

I froze, looking back at him. His eyes were black voids, devoid of any familial affection.

"Your only mistake in that affair was leaving a witness," Alfonzo said smoothly. "If Claudine Blair's spy hadn't walked in on you, we would have let the Shields girl rot at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Remember, Alessa. In our world, getting caught is the only sin."

A shiver traced its way down my spine. That was the true law of the Moreno Family. It wasn't about the violence; it was about the exposure. The feud with the Blairs wasn't resolved, merely buried under the Don's absolute authority.

Before I could respond to his chilling absolution, the brass intercom on his marble desk buzzed sharply.

"Don Alfonzo," a guard's voice crackled through the speaker. "Underboss Marco has arrived, and Capo Vario is still waiting in the hall."

The Don leaned back in his leather throne, swirling the whiskey in his glass as a predatory smirk touched his lips. "Send them both in."