Chapter 10
The lieutenant stopped a respectful distance away, his eyes darting briefly to Nellie before focusing entirely on his boss. The bright, airy lighting of the foyer illuminated the tension rolling off the man's shoulders.
"Boss, I apologize for the interruption," the lieutenant said, his voice tight. "But we just intercepted a message from the Rossi compound. They know Colette didn't finish the job. They're mobilizing."
Julian’s demeanor shifted instantly. The tender, quiet man who had just stood in his son's bedroom vanished, replaced entirely by the ruthless, calculating mafia boss. His broad shoulders squared, and he gripped his mahogany cane with bone-crushing force.
"Do they truly believe they can catch me off guard in my own territory?" Julian asked, his voice a low, lethal hum that promised absolute destruction. "Have they forgotten what happened to the last family that tried to march on this house?"
"They're desperate, sir. Without Colette on the inside, they know you'll strike back. They're trying to hit us before we hit them," the lieutenant explained.
Julian nodded slowly, his high-bridged nose casting a sharp shadow. "Will you lock down the estate and place the perimeter guards on high alert? And will you assemble the strike teams in the armory immediately?"
"Yes, Boss. Right away," the lieutenant said, turning on his heel and sprinting toward the security wing.
Julian turned back to Nellie. The beautiful housemaid was standing on the bottom step of the staircase, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She was not panicking, but the vulnerability in her expressive eyes was evident. She had just realized that the peace she felt in this house was a fragile illusion, constantly besieged by the violent world Julian controlled.
Julian stepped closer to her, his physical presence a shield against the impending chaos.
"Are you terrified of the life I lead, Nellie?" Julian asked, his voice soft, stripping away the armor he wore for his men.
Nellie looked at the intricate tattoos on his hands, the scars on his neck, and the heavy cane that supported his healing leg. She saw the danger, but she also saw the man who had treated her with nothing but respect and quiet affection.
"I am terrified for you, Julian," Nellie answered, dropping his formal title for the first time, her voice steady and resolute.
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Julian’s eyes burned with a fierce, possessive intensity. The restrained romance between them was finally breaking free of its chains, forged in the crucible of a coming war. He reached out, his hand gently cupping her soft, oval face.
"Will you stay upstairs with my son and keep him safe while I handle the wolves at our door?" Julian asked, his thumb brushing across her cheekbone. "And when the morning comes and the streets are quiet again, will you still be here waiting for me?"
