Delia Hart breathing grew dangerously tight and shallow

The warm, muted light of the nursery cast intimate shadows across the room. Delia looked up into Sterling’s cold, perceptive eyes, finding a surprising depth of warmth hidden beneath their icy surface. She was a housemaid, a woman paid to clean and serve, yet the mafia boss was looking at her with a level of respect he reserved for his most trusted lieutenants.

"I am just telling you what I see, sir," Delia smiled back, her expressive brows lifting gently.

Sterling stared at her, captivated by the movie-star beauty of her softly oval face and delicate cheekbones. The sophisticated black maid dress cinched at her waist highlighted the feminine perfection of her silhouette, but it was the quiet courage and unwavering loyalty in her eyes that truly drew him in.

"Shall we retire to my study?" Sterling asked, gesturing toward the door. "Is there much we still need to discuss regarding the events of tonight?"

"Yes, Mr. Voss," Delia nodded, following him out of the nursery.

They walked in silence down the luminous, airy corridors of the mansion. The warm golden light washed over the carved walnut paneling and gilded mirrors. When they reached the heavy oak doors of his private study, Sterling opened it and ushered her inside.

The study was a sanctuary of deep leather, rich mahogany, and walls lined with books. It felt isolated from the rest of the vast estate. Sterling walked behind his massive carved walnut desk, pouring a small measure of amber liquid into a crystal glass. He offered it to Delia.

"Would you care for a drink to calm your nerves before the real war begins?" Sterling asked.

Delia accepted the crystal glass, her fingers briefly brushing against the refined artistic tattoos on his hand. A jolt of electricity shot up her arm. "Thank you, sir."

Sterling poured a glass for himself and leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his long legs at the ankles. He took a slow sip, his cold, perceptive eyes never leaving her beautifully tapered face. The soft, elegant warmth of the desk lamp illuminated the powerful breadth of his shoulders in his tailored three-piece suit.

"Are you aware of the retaliation that will follow Clarissa's dismissal?" Sterling asked, his tone shifting back to the calculating, serious cadence of a man preparing for absolute war.

"I know her father is a very powerful man," Delia admitted, taking a small sip of the liquor to soothe her dry throat. "The Vale syndicate won't accept a broken engagement peacefully. They will want revenge."

"Do you believe I fear the wrath of a man who raised a monster?" Sterling asked, his eyes darkening with lethal intent.

"No, sir," Delia replied softly. "I think you are going to destroy him."

Sterling set his own glass down on the desk. He stood to his full height, his powerful, masculine shoulders squared. The war with the Vale syndicate was no longer a possibility; it was an absolute certainty. The streets would run red before the weekend was over.

"Will you accept a change in your employment, Delia?" Sterling asked suddenly, shifting the topic with whiplash speed.