Chapter 3 - The Awakening
Aleandro walked slowly down the hallway toward the guest wing.
The pieces of the puzzle were finally starting to form a terrifying picture.
Rosa had fled her ruthless family to protect her daughter.
She had hidden in plain sight by scrubbing floors in the home of her uncle's greatest enemy.
Aleandro opened the bedroom door and found Rosa sitting up against the pillows.
Her eyes were wide with terror as she recognized the lavish surroundings of the Romano penthouse.
"Where is my daughter?" Rosa panicked, trying to pull the IV needle from her arm.
"She is sleeping safely in the next room," Aleandro said, stepping into the light.
Rosa froze when she saw the master of the Romano estate standing before her.
"You know who I am," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
"I know you are a Caruso," Aleandro replied calmly.
"I also know someone used a Russian toxin to try and end your life this morning."
Rosa buried her face in her hands and began to sob.
"My uncle Vincenzo found out where I was hiding," she cried.
"He wants Mia because she is the only bloodline left to inherit his seat on the commission."
Aleandro walked over to the window and looked out over the city.
"Why didn't he just take her?" Aleandro asked.
"Because the commission rules state that an heir cannot be claimed if the mother is still alive to contest it," Rosa explained.
"He poisoned me so he could legally adopt her from child services after my death."
Aleandro felt a surge of violent, protective rage building in his stomach.
Nobody was going to touch the little girl with the yellow gloves.
Before he could speak, the penthouse lights suddenly flickered and died.
The emergency red backup lights bathed the room in a bloody glow.
The heavy steel security doors at the end of the hallway groaned loudly.
Marco’s voice crackled frantically over the intercom system.
May you like
"Boss, we have a massive breach."
"Thirty heavily armed men just blew through the elevator shaft, and they are coming for the girl."
