Chapter 8 - THE SAFE HAVEN
Dominic turned his attention back down to his three little girls. He saw the sheer terror in Lucia’s eyes, the tears streaming down her pale cheeks now that the agonizing weight of her secret had been voiced.
He did not raise his voice. He did not display the cold, violent rage that usually defined his presence in the underworld.
Dominic reached out, taking Lucia gently by her waist, and lifted her into his broad arms. He pulled her tiny body against his chest, cradling her head against his shoulder. He then reached down with his free arm and scooped up Mia and Valentina, pulling all three of his four-year-old daughters into a tight, protective embrace against his black suit jacket.
He looked across the room at Clara, the young maid who was staring at him with wide, frightened eyes, holding her apron tight.
"You," Dominic said softly, his dark eyes fixing on her.
Clara swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Y-yes, sir?"
"You aren't fired," Dominic said, his voice firm and absolute. "Take the girls up to the master nursery on the second floor. Stay with them. Lock the door from the inside and do not open it for anyone except me."
Clara blinked in surprise, then nodded rapidly, rushing forward to take Mia and Valentina from Dominic's arms. She reached out her hand to Lucia, who looked at her father one last time before letting go of his suit jacket and taking Clara's hand.
"Go," Dominic commanded softly.
May you like
Clara led the three young girls out of the sunlit kitchen and up the grand marble staircase toward the secure upper living quarters of the mansion.
Dominic stood up slowly from the marble floor, brushing the white flour from his trousers. He turned to face the empty kitchen, his broad shoulders squared, his hands sliding into his suit pockets as he pulled out his encrypted smartphone.
