Chapter 1 - The Sleeping Lion
The grand sitting room of the luxurious Chicago mansion was draped in quiet, tense shadows. Warm, dim lamp lighting illuminated the elegant decor and a massive, deep brown leather armchair in the center of the room. Slumped heavily in the chair was Dominic Valente.
In his 40s, with dark hair, faint stubble, and wearing expensive black silk pajamas with white piping, Dominic was the most feared, ruthless mafia boss in the city. But tonight, the powerful man looked completely defeated. A high fever ravaged his body, forcing him into a restless, pain-filled sleep. A small side table next to his chair was littered with prescription medicine bottles.
Standing perfectly still in the doorway, absolutely paralyzed with fear, was Elena.
She was a 20-something woman wearing a crisp tan maid uniform with a dark belt, her brown hair pulled tightly back. She had been strictly ordered by the mansion’s security team to never enter this room while the boss was resting.
But Elena wasn't alone.
Her three-year-old daughter, Rosie, had slipped past her. With curly brown hair tied in a red bow and wearing a cream dress covered in little red hearts, the tiny girl was walking fearlessly toward the sleeping, dangerous man.
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"Rosie, sweetheart," Elena rasped in a panicked, desperate whisper, terrified to wake the boss. "Step away from him."
👉 How will the innocent toddler react to her terrified mother's warning?
