Page 81 of Mafia Don's Secret Heir
He stirs, blinking up at me with those bright, innocent eyes that gut me every time. “Daddy?”
I force a smile. “We’re going on a little adventure, all right? But you need to stay with Rosa for a bit.”
His small face scrunches in confusion. “Why?”
“Because Mommy and I have to do something important,” Valentina says, her voice steady as she lifts him into her arms. “Rosa will take care of you. She’ll keep you safe.”
Leo nods sleepily, trusting us without question, and it’s a trust that weighs heavy on my chest. I grab his favorite stuffed bear from the bed and hand it to him.
“Hold onto this for me, champ,” I say. “Keep it safe.”
Valentina grabs a bag while I make a quick call to Rosa. The housekeeper picks up immediately, her voice groggy but alert. “Mr. Salvatore?”
“Rosa, I need you to watch Leo. We’ll drop him off in ten minutes.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be ready.”
We’re out the door in less than three, the hotel staff barely glancing our way as we pass. Valentina holds Leo close, whispering soothing words to him while I stay ahead, my hand already brushing the cold steel of my gun holstered beneath my jacket.
The car is waiting at the curb, and I slide into the driver’s seat, Marco’s words still echoing in my head. Valentina climbs into the back with Leo, strapping him in before meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Drive,” she says, her voice firm.
The roads blur as I press down on the gas, the hum of the engine barely registering over the storm brewing in my mind. Rosa’s quarters are on the outskirts of the estate, far enough from the chaos to keep Leo safe but close enough for me to feel like I can still protect him.
We arrive at Rosa’s modest cottage in record time. The housekeeper meets us at the door, her robe hastily tied over her nightgown.
“Come in, come in,” she says, ushering us inside. She takes Leo from Valentina’s arms, her maternal instincts kicking in immediately.
“You’re safe here, little one,” Rosa coos, carrying him to the couch.
I crouch in front of Leo one last time, my hands resting on his tiny shoulders. “Stay with Rosa, okay? Mommy and I will be back soon.”
He nods, clutching his bear tightly. “Promise?”
I lean in, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I promise.”
Valentina does the same, whispering something in his ear that makes him smile faintly. Then we’re back in the car, the silence between us thick with unspoken fears.
As we near the estate, the night sky lights up with bursts of orange and yellow. Explosions. Gunfire. The Rossis aren’t just attacking—they’re trying to raze the entire place to the ground.
Valentina leans forward, her hand gripping my arm. “Luca…”
“I see it,” I say, my voice cold, controlled.
The closer we get, the more vivid the scene becomes. Flames lick the edges of the property, smoke curling into the sky like a dark omen. Figures dart through the shadows, exchanging fire. My men are holding their ground, but it’s chaos—pure, unrelenting chaos.
I tighten my grip on the wheel. “Stay close to me, Valentina. No matter what.”
Her response is immediate, resolute. “I will.”
As we pull up to the gates, the full scale of the attack comes into view. The estate—the heart of the Salvatore empire—is under siege.
And I’ll be damned if I let it fall.
The gates of the estate are a battlefield. The Salvatore guards, armed and entrenched, return fire against shadowy figures moving in waves. I take it all in as I step out of the car, the acrid scent of gunpowder biting the air. Valentina is at my side before I can bark a warning, her eyes scanning the chaos with sharp focus.
“Get behind me,” I snap, my tone leaving no room for argument.
