Chapter 1 THE SEATTLE ENCOUNTER

Armani leaned back in his chair, looking out the window as the smell of fried fish filled the small restaurant. He was in Seattle, a place he'd only visited once before for a fancy party years ago. That event hadn't left much of an impression, but this trip was different. It was important.

The fish on his plate was crispy and fresh, just like Benedict had promised. Benedict always said it was the best in the world, and maybe he was right. But Armani barely tasted it. The uncomfortable chair and cheap table didn't bother him as much as the thoughts running through his head.

Armani del Rossi was no ordinary man. He ruled his world from the shadows, the name "Del Rossi" whispered with fear and reverence across continents. He was a mafia lord-a ruthless, calculating figure who commanded loyalty through power and fear. Possession was his creed. Control was his doctrine. And anything he wanted, he took.

Recently, his mind had been elsewhere. Benedict had a daughter, and even Xavier-of all people-had a son now. When Benedict's baby was born, Armani hadn't thought much of it. Babies cried, made messes, and didn't interest him. But Xavier's son was different. Seeing how Xavier changed after becoming a father had made Armani think about his own future. Maybe he wanted a child too-an heir to carry on his name.

This idea surprised him. Armani had spent most of his life avoiding serious relationships. Settling down had never been part of his plan. But now, the thought of a child had taken root. He wanted someone to continue his legacy, but he didn't want the complications that came with a relationship.

That's why he was here. Earlier that day, he had visited a legal firm in Seattle that specialized in surrogacy-helping people have children with the help of a surrogate mother. They were known for being private and professional. Armani had spent hours looking through profiles of potential surrogates, but none of them felt right.

One woman had seemed promising. She was smart, accomplished, and beautiful. But there was a problem-she wanted to share custody of the child. That was a deal-breaker. Armani's plan required the surrogate to give up all rights to the child. No strings attached.

He sighed and stared out at the water. "Why does this have to be so complicated?" he muttered. The waves outside didn't offer any answers.

Armani's frustration grew as he thought about the lawyer's words earlier. The man had told him he was being unrealistic. "At some point, your child will want to know who their mother is," the lawyer had said. Armani had disagreed. He wanted a clear and simple arrangement, but finding the right person was proving harder than he expected.

A loud voice from the booth behind him broke through his thoughts. "That's ridiculous!" the woman said. Her tone was sharp and filled with frustration. Armani couldn't help but listen.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw her. She was stunning, with long black hair and striking blue eyes. She held a phone to her ear, her face tight with anger as she argued with someone. "This has to be a joke," she said, disbelief clear in her voice.

Armani quickly looked away, reminding himself that he hadn't come to Seattle to be distracted by anyone, no matter how beautiful they were. But something about her caught his attention. Her voice rose again, this time sounding almost desperate.

"A million dollars?" she said, her tone sharp and incredulous. "Where am I supposed to get a million dollars?"

Her words lingered in the air, and Armani found himself thinking about her, even though he knew he shouldn't. He tried to focus on his original purpose, but his mind kept drifting back to the woman with the fierce blue eyes and the

frustration in her voice.