Chapter 10 - The King and His Heir
Don Moretti turned his back on the stairs. He let out a long, shuddering breath, the physical weight of a three-year nightmare finally lifting off his broad shoulders.
He looked down at Lily. The little girl in the duck socks was still standing there, completely unbothered by the chaos, looking up at him with those innocent, beautiful hazel eyes.
The mafia boss slowly dropped back to his knees. His hands trembled as he gently, reverently reached out, pulling his tiny daughter into his chest. He buried his face in her soft hair, tears finally streaming down his rugged face as he held his own flesh and blood for the very first time.
Lily wrapped her small arms around his neck, resting her head against his sharp tailored suit.
Don Moretti opened his eyes, looking directly at Rosa. The young maid was still kneeling on the marble, weeping silently, expecting to be dismissed or punished for her deception.
"You are no longer a maid, Rosa," Don Moretti said, his voice thick with profound, eternal gratitude. "You saved my daughter's life. You protected my blood when I was too blind to see the truth. From this moment on, you sit at my table. You are family. And anyone who ever disrespects you will answer directly to me."
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Rosa covered her face, sobbing with absolute, unadulterated relief. The terrifying reign of the cruel mistress was over. The true heir had been found, the loyal protector was elevated to royalty, and the king was finally whole again.
If you were Don Moretti, would you have handed Isabella over to the police, or handled her betrayal privately within the syndicate walls?
