Chapter 10
Bea’s breath hitched in her throat. The imposing, masculine frame of the mafia boss filled her vision as he stepped closer. The warm golden light of the study caught the extremely short, neatly trimmed stubble on his jawline.
"What kind of change, Mr. Caldwell?" Bea asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Would you prefer to assume the role of my father’s personal companion, answering to no one in this house but me?" Vincent asked.
Bea stared at him, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the offer. A personal companion was a position of high respect and immense trust, offering security that far exceeded her role as a housemaid. It meant she would no longer be invisible; she would be a central figure in the life of the mafia boss's family.
"Are you serious, sir?" Bea asked, a radiant, beautiful smile breaking across her fair, rosy face.
"Have I ever joked about the welfare of my family?" Vincent asked, stopping just inches from her.
"I would be honored," Bea whispered.
"Will you trust me to keep you safe when the war begins tomorrow?" Vincent asked, his voice a low, gravelly promise.
"Always," Bea replied without hesitation.
Vincent raised his tattooed hand, his knuckles gently brushing against the soft curve of her jawline. It was a fleeting, electric touch that promised a future far more complicated than employer and employee.
Before either could speak again, the heavy oak doors of the study burst open. A bloodied security operative stumbled into the room, gasping for breath.
"Is the perimeter breached?" Vincent asked, spinning around, his hand already reaching for the concealed weapon beneath his jacket.
"Yes, Boss!" the operative choked out. "The Lennox syndicate didn't wait! They are at the gates right now!"
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Vincent looked back at Bea, his eyes burning with an unyielding, protective fire.
"Shall we show them exactly what it costs to threaten my family?" Vincent asked the quiet room, racking the slide of his handgun as the sirens began to wail.
