Chapter 10
A soft, embarrassed blush crept across Corisande’s fair, rosy cheeks. She looked down at her right hand, flexing her fingers slightly. "My older brother taught me how to box when I was a teenager. I never thought I'd actually use it on a guest."
"She ceased being a guest the moment she threatened my child," Florian stated, his voice hardening slightly at the memory. He reached out, his artistic, tattooed fingers gently taking her right hand. He examined her knuckles carefully under the bright, luminous chandeliers, checking for any bruising or swelling.
"You risked your life for me today," Florian said quietly, looking up from her hand to meet her gaze. "If she had struck you with that bottle, it could have killed you."
"I know," Corisande whispered, her eyes refusing to pull away from his. "But I couldn't just stand there. I won't ever just stand there and watch someone hurt you, Florian."
She used his first name, the rigid boundaries of their employer-employee relationship shattering completely amidst the broken crystal on the floor.
Florian’s breath caught. He stepped closer, eliminating the space between them. The scent of his expensive cologne mixed with the sharp tang of spilled champagne.
"You understand what happens now, don't you?" Florian asked, his deep voice a low, mesmerizing rumble. "The Wetherell family will come for blood. This house will become a fortress. It will be dangerous."
"I am not afraid of them," Corisande replied, lifting her chin with a quiet, beautiful defiance.
"I am not asking if you are afraid of them," Florian murmured, raising his hand to gently cup her cheek, his thumb brushing against her flawless skin. "I am asking if you are prepared to stay by my side through the storm. Because after today, I cannot allow you to return to the shadows, Corisande. You are mine to protect now."
Corisande leaned into his touch, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs, no longer with fear, but with a profound, exhilarating hope.
"I don't want to be in the shadows," she breathed. "I want to be exactly where I am."
Florian’s eyes darkened with intense, undeniable affection. He leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a soft, fierce kiss that sealed their unspoken bond amidst the ruins of the reception.
When they parted, Florian kept his arm securely around her waist. He looked around the ballroom, his capos standing guard at every door, waiting for his command.
May you like
"Come," Florian said, his voice ringing with absolute certainty. "We need to go see my son."
Together, the mafia boss and the woman who had fought for him walked away from the shattered dessert table, leaving the bright, luminous ballroom behind as they stepped forward to face the impending war.
