Chapter 7 - The Loyal Protector
I was leaning heavily against the mahogany table, my entire body shaking from the adrenaline and the pain in my face. I had just witnessed the absolute destruction of the boss's wife. I expected to be handed a severance check and sent away.
Dante walked slowly toward me. The cold, terrifying executioner completely vanished. He looked incredibly human, deeply exhausted, and overwhelmingly grateful.
"You took a hit for me, Julia," Dante whispered softly, his deep voice filled with profound, undeniable respect. "You stood between my vault and a desperate man, and you didn't back down. I have never seen loyalty like that."
I swallowed hard, looking down at the floor. "I was just doing my job, Mr. Moretti."
"Your job as a maid ended the second you refused to give him those codes," Dante stated firmly.
He reached into his pocket and placed a heavy, solid black titanium keycard on the table in front of me.
"You are moving out of the servant's quarters tonight," Dante vowed, the absolute power of his massive wealth backing every syllable. "I am elevating you to the Head of Estate Security. I am quadrupling your salary. You will have a private suite, your own detail, and full authority over this household. Nobody will ever, ever raise a hand to you again."
Tears of pure, unadulterated relief and joy spilled from my good eye.
I hadn't just survived a brutal assault; I had secured a future I never dreamed possible.
Over the next month, Marcus was entirely erased by the Russian syndicate, and Victoria was forced to work a minimum-wage job, entirely bankrupt and forgotten by the city's elite.
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I took my place at Dante's side. I didn't wear a black and white uniform anymore. I wore tailored suits, running his security empire with absolute, fearless precision. The bruise faded, but the crown I earned that night was permanent.
If you were Julia, would you have demanded Marcus be handed over to the police, or was handing him to the cartel the ultimate, perfect justice?
