Chapter 6
The walk from the sprawling, brightly lit ballroom to Lachlan’s private study was agonizingly quiet. The heavy oak doors of the study clicked shut behind them, sealing away the murmurs and the music of the rehearsal dinner. The study was a sanctuary of dark wood, leather, and quiet, ambient lighting, completely free of the oppressive yellow tints that plagued lesser estates.
Lachlan walked over to a heavy mahogany desk, leaning against the edge of it. He looked exhausted, the adrenaline of the betrayal finally ebbing from his system. He ran a tattooed hand through his swept-back hair, disturbing its flawless perfection.
Annalise stood by the door, her hands clasped tightly in front of her white apron. Her sophisticated black maid dress felt incredibly out of place in the inner sanctum of the mafia boss.
“Are you injured, Annalise?” Lachlan asked, his deep voice breaking the heavy silence.
“No, sir. I’m perfectly fine,” she replied softly, taking a hesitant step further into the room.
Lachlan shook his head, a wry, incredulous smile touching his lips. “Do you realize what you just did out there? You shoulder-checked a man twice your size who was flanked by armed guards.”
Annalise’s fair, rosy cheeks flushed deeply. She lowered her eyes, suddenly embarrassed by her own reckless bravery. “I didn't think about it. I just saw him hurting you, and I couldn't let it happen.”
“Do you place so little value on your own life that you would risk it for me?” Lachlan asked, pushing off the desk and walking slowly toward her.
“My life is fine,” Annalise whispered, looking up at him as he stopped just inches away. “But you... you were bleeding. And he was humiliating you. You didn't deserve that.”
Lachlan reached out, his large, artistic hands gently framing her delicate face. His thumbs brushed lightly across her cheekbones. Annalise’s breath hitched, her expressive eyes wide as she looked up into his incredibly handsome, masculine face.
“Did you truly believe I could ever allow a single hair on your head to be harmed after what you did for me tonight?” Lachlan asked softly.
“I didn't do it for a reward, Lachlan,” she said, dropping his formal title in the heavy intimacy of the moment.
“I know you didn't,” he murmured, stepping even closer. “That is exactly why it matters so much.”
Before Lachlan could lean in, the heavy oak doors of the study swung open without a knock.
The Security Manager stepped into the room, his face grim. He stopped short, realizing he had interrupted a profoundly private moment between the boss and the housemaid.
“Apologies, Boss,” the older man said, his voice tight. “But we have a critical situation.”
Lachlan slowly dropped his hands from Annalise’s face, though he did not step away from her. The terrifying aura of the mafia boss instantly returned, hardening the sharp angles of his jawline.
May you like
“Does this situation involve Clive, or have we discovered another rat in the walls?” Lachlan asked.
“It’s not Clive, sir,” the Security Manager said, holding up his tablet again. “It’s the Moretti family. We just intercepted a convoy approaching the southern gates. They’re heavily armed, and they’re demanding entry.”
