Chapter 10
The profound, ringing silence of the grand dining gallery was broken only by the gentle crackle of the marble fireplace. The cascading crystal chandeliers continued to cast their warm golden light over the three figures. The opulent space, designed for celebration, now felt like the staging ground for a new beginning.
"I don't know how to repay you, sir," Mina whispered, her American accent trembling as she held Owen tightly against her white apron. "She said you would kill me if you found out."
"Did you believe the lies of a traitor over the reality of your own eyes?" Alden asked, his deep voice a low, reassuring rumble.
He reached out, offering his tattooed hand to help her up. Mina hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing her slender fingers into his grip. His hold was warm, firm, and instantly grounding. He pulled her effortlessly to her feet, allowing her to keep her other arm securely wrapped around Owen.
"Shall we find a more comfortable place for the boy to rest?" Alden asked, his gaze dropping briefly to the six-year-old who looked exhausted in the bright, luminous light.
"Yes, Mr. Kincaid," Mina nodded, her rosy cheeks flushing slightly under his intense focus.
Alden turned and led them out of the dining gallery. They navigated the ivory-paneled corridors of the mansion, bypassing the staff quarters entirely. Instead, Alden guided them up the sweeping marble staircase toward the secure, heavily guarded family wing. The warm golden hues of the wall sconces illuminated their path, a stark contrast to the dark, violent reality of the impending mafia war.
He opened the doors to a massive, luxurious guest suite. The room was bathed in soft light, featuring a large, plush bed and thick silk curtains.
"Will this room suffice for the evening?" Alden asked, gesturing inside.
"It's beautiful, sir. Thank you," Mina breathed, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of his protection. She guided Owen to the bed, gently tucking the exhausted boy beneath the thick duvet. Within minutes, the child’s breathing evened out into a deep, peaceful rhythm.
Mina stood back up, turning to face Alden. The mafia boss stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders leaning casually against the frame. He had removed his suit jacket, and the loose strands of his wavy hair fell over his forehead, making him look less like a warlord and more like a weary king.
"Are the bad men going to come here?" Mina asked, echoing the unspoken fear that hung in the air. She knew Juliana’s father would not accept the broken engagement peacefully.
"Do you think anyone could ever get past me to hurt you or your son?" Alden asked softly, stepping fully into the room and closing the heavy oak doors behind him.
"They have an army, Alden," Mina said, using his first name in her desperation.
"Have I not built an empire by standing against armies?" Alden asked, a dark, lethal smile touching the corners of his mouth.
He closed the distance between them, stopping just inches away. The sheer, rugged beauty of his angular face and high-bridged nose was breathtaking up close.
"Will you accept a change in your employment, Mina?" Alden asked suddenly, shifting the topic with whiplash speed.
Mina blinked, her expressive brows furrowing in confusion. "A change, sir?"
"Do you believe your talents are best utilized arranging flowers and suffering abuse?" Alden asked, his cold, perceptive eyes softening as he looked down at her.
"What kind of change?" Mina asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Would you prefer to assume the role of my personal confidante, answering to absolutely no one in this house but me?" Alden asked.
Mina stared at him, overwhelmed by the offer. It meant she would no longer be invisible; she would be a central figure in the life of the mafia boss.
"Are you serious, Alden?" Mina asked, a radiant, beautiful smile breaking across her fair, rosy face.
"Have I ever joked about the people under my protection?" Alden asked, his sharply defined jawline softening slightly.
"I would be honored," Mina whispered.
"Will you trust me to keep you safe when the war begins tomorrow?" Alden asked, his voice a low, gravelly promise.
May you like
"Always," Mina replied without hesitation.
Alden 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. As the distant, high-pitched wail of the estate’s security sirens began to sound, signaling the arrival of the Vale syndicate's retaliation, Alden did not flinch. He simply looked at the woman he had chosen to protect, ready to burn the city to ash to keep her safe.
