Chapter 10 - The Family Reborn
Victor screamed, kicking and begging for his life as the elite guards grabbed him by the arms and violently dragged him out of the office. His hysterical cries echoed down the grand hallway, fading into the dark belly of the estate, never to be heard from again.
The heavy oak doors clicked shut, plunging the magnificent office back into absolute silence.
Alessandro stood in the center of the room. He took a deep, shuddering breath, the adrenaline slowly leaving his system. He turned around to face Sophia.
Sophia was trembling uncontrollably, her knees finally giving out. She collapsed onto the floor, clutching Emma tightly against her chest, crying heavy, exhausted tears. The four-year nightmare of running, hiding, and starving was finally over.
Alessandro walked over to them. The terrifying, ruthless mafia boss knelt down on the expensive rug, completely ignoring his tailored suit.
He reached out and gently placed his large, tattooed hand on Sophia’s shoulder.
"You don't ever have to run again," Alessandro said, his voice incredibly soft, filled with profound respect and sorrow. "You protected her when I couldn't. You kept my brother's legacy alive. You are home now."
Emma peeked out from behind her mother’s apron. She looked at Alessandro, not afraid of the blood or the guns. She reached out and patted his arm.
"You stood up," Emma smiled brightly, her blue eyes shining.
Alessandro smiled back—a rare, genuine expression that reached his piercing gray eyes.
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Within an hour, the entire estate was restructured. Sophia’s maid uniform was burned. She was moved into the luxurious master guest suite, given full access to the Moretti family accounts, and provided with a personal, elite security detail. Alessandro officially adopted Emma, naming her the sole, undisputed heir to his massive billionaire empire. He never sat in the wheelchair again. He ruled Chicago with an iron fist, but every evening, the terrifying boss would leave his meetings early just to sit in the garden and eat butter cookies with the brave little girl who had saved his soul.
Do you think Alessandro’s punishment for Victor was justified, or did the traitor deserve worse?
