Chapter 10
The bright, luminous colors of the dining hall felt like a stark, surreal backdrop to the devastating emotional resolution unfolding at the head of the table. Kellan stood perfectly still, his tailored dark three-piece suit an anchor of masculine authority in the chaotic aftermath. He took a slow, controlled breath, the tension bleeding out of his broad, powerful shoulders.
He turned his full attention back to the frail old man and the beautiful housemaid. The cold, terrifying edge of the Mafia boss softened considerably as he looked down at Hugh Mercer.
The seventy-three-year-old chauffeur was weeping silently, his chin resting on his chest, overwhelmed by the relief of finally speaking the truth.
"Are you safe now, Hugh?" Kellan asked, his deep voice returning to a warm, comforting rumble.
Hugh sniffled, looking up at the tall, imposing man with wide, tear-filled eyes. "I am sorry I ran, Mr. Ashford. I was so afraid."
"Did I ever give you reason to believe I could not protect those loyal to my family?" Kellan inquired softly, placing a heavily tattooed hand gently on the old man's shoulder. "Will you allow my men to escort you to a secure safehouse tonight, where you will be protected until this war is won?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Hugh wept, overwhelmed by the unexpected mercy.
Kellan signaled to two guards, who gently led the elderly caretaker out of the dining hall.
Kellan then turned his perceptive gaze toward the housemaid who had risked everything to protect the old man and expose the truth. Mina stood quietly in her sophisticated black maid dress, her hands neatly folded over her white apron. Her softly tapered face was pale from the adrenaline, but her expressive brows were relaxed.
"Do you understand the magnitude of the debt I owe you tonight, Mina?" Kellan asked, looking deeply into her delicate features.
Mina’s fair, rosy cheeks flushed a delicate pink under his intense, perceptive gaze. "I only did what was right, sir. I couldn't let him carry that burden alone."
"Is bravery not the rarest commodity in our world?" Kellan questioned, bowing his head slightly in a profound gesture of respect. "Will you accompany me to my study, Mina? Will you help me review the security protocols for the estate before the retaliation begins?"
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"I would be honored, Mr. Ashford," Mina promised, her voice steady and clear.
Kellan watched her walk beside him toward the heavy double doors leading to the residential wing. His angular face, usually a mask of impenetrable authority, softened with a rare, genuine gratitude. A young woman in a maid's uniform had demonstrated a courage that surpassed his fiercest soldiers, fundamentally altering the trajectory of his syndicate. He buttoned his suit jacket, preparing to descend into the lower levels. The war with the Vale family was just beginning, but his father's ghost had finally been put to rest.
