Chapter 7
Pippa held the crystal glass tightly, the amber liquid catching the soft light of the desk lamp. She looked up at the movie-star handsome face of the mafia boss, her heart hammering against her ribs. She was acutely aware of the sheer magnitude of the danger they were now facing.
"I know her father is a very powerful man," Pippa admitted, taking a small sip of the liquor to soothe her dry throat. "The Sterling syndicate won't accept a broken engagement peacefully. They will want revenge."
"Do you believe I fear the wrath of a man who raised a monster?" Archer asked, his eyes darkening with lethal intent.
"No, sir," Pippa replied softly. "I think you are going to destroy him."
Archer set his own glass down on the desk. He stood to his full height, his powerful, masculine shoulders squared. The war with the Sterling syndicate was no longer a possibility; it was an absolute certainty. The streets would run red before the weekend was over.
"Will you accept a change in your employment, Pippa?" Archer asked suddenly, shifting the topic with whiplash speed.
Pippa blinked, her expressive brows furrowing in confusion. "A change, sir?"
"Do you believe your talents are best utilized dusting mirrors and suffering abuse?" Archer asked, taking a slow step toward her.
Pippa’s breath hitched in her throat. The imposing frame of the mafia boss filled her vision as he stepped closer. The warm golden light of the study caught the fine lines framing his perceptive eyes, revealing a depth of character she had never fully appreciated.
"What kind of change, Mr. Langford?" Pippa asked, her heart racing.
"Would you prefer to assume the role of my mother’s personal companion, answering to no one in this house but me?" Archer asked.
Pippa 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, safe from the grueling physical labor that her bruised knees could no longer endure.
"Are you serious, sir?" Pippa asked, a radiant, beautiful smile breaking across her fair, rosy face.
"Have I ever joked about the welfare of my mother?" Archer asked, stopping just inches from her.
"I would be honored," Pippa whispered.
"Will you trust me to keep you safe when the war begins tomorrow?" Archer asked, his voice a low, gravelly promise.
"Always," Pippa replied without hesitation.
Archer 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?" Archer asked, spinning around, his hand already reaching for the concealed weapon beneath his jacket.
"Yes, Boss!" the operative choked out. "The Sterling syndicate didn't wait! They are at the gates right now!"
Archer looked back at Pippa, his cold, perceptive eyes burning with an unyielding, protective fire.
May you like
"Shall we show them exactly what it costs to threaten my family?" Archer asked the quiet room.
He racked the slide of his handgun with a sharp, metallic clatter as the estate's high-pitched security sirens began to wail. The war had officially arrived at their doorstep.
