Chapter 10 - The Family
Aleandro moved faster than he ever had in his entire life.
He dove across the room, throwing his body between the bullet and the little girl.
The hot lead tore into his left shoulder, spinning him around and knocking him to the floor.
Rosa screamed, grabbing Mia and running to the corner of the room.
Vincenzo raised the revolver to fire again, laughing wildly at the sight of his bleeding enemy.
Aleandro ignored the agonizing pain in his shoulder, raised his assault rifle with one hand, and fired.
Three rounds struck Vincenzo in the chest, dropping the cruel mafia boss instantly and permanently.
The slaughterhouse fell completely silent, save for the sound of water draining into the grates below.
Marco limped into the room, kicking Vincenzo's gun away to ensure the threat was gone forever.
Rosa rushed to Aleandro's side, pressing her hands against his bleeding shoulder to stop the flow of blood.
"You saved her," Rosa cried, looking down at him with profound, absolute gratitude.
Aleandro looked past her at Mia, who was clutching her mother's dress, safe and unharmed.
"She is my family now," Aleandro whispered, letting his head fall back against the floor.
Three months later, the Romano estate was bathed in warm, golden sunlight.
The Caruso empire had completely crumbled without Vincenzo, leaving Aleandro as the undisputed king of New York.
He sat in the grand hall, his shoulder fully healed, sipping a cup of strong espresso.
Rosa walked into the room wearing a beautiful, elegant dress, no longer a maid, but the newly married lady of the house.
Mia ran across the Persian rug, giggling loudly as she chased a new puppy around the furniture.
Aleandro smiled, realizing he finally had a life worth living, far beyond the violence and power he had always known.
He was a husband and a father, and his world was finally at peace.
Marco stepped into the grand hall, his face pale and serious, holding a thick black envelope in his hand.
"Boss, this just arrived by private courier at the front gate," Marco said quietly, handing him the envelope.
May you like
Aleandro opened it and pulled out a glossy photograph of Mia, taken yesterday from inside the walls of the estate.
Written on the back in elegant, cursive ink were the words: "The Carusos were just our pawns, but you took something that belongs to the High Commission."
