Chapter 9 – THE COAT THAT SHELTERED THE STORM

He opened the velvet box.

Inside rested a delicate gold chain holding a small, intricate pendant.

It wasn’t a diamond. It wasn’t an engagement ring.

It was the Moretti family crest.

In Luca’s world, this necklace meant one thing: absolute, untouchable protection. Anyone wearing it was recognized by the entire syndicate as a member of his inner circle.

“I’m not asking you to marry me tonight, Madison,” Luca said, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ve been through hell. I just want to know if I can finally start earning the right to ask.”

I looked from the necklace to his dark, bruised, beautiful face.

For my entire life, men had taken from me. Liam took my youth. My savings. My peace of mind.

But Luca had given up his empire, his reputation, and his own body to keep us safe.

“You don’t have to earn it,” I whispered.

I turned around, sweeping my hair over my shoulder.

Luca’s breath hitched. His hands trembled slightly as he fastened the gold clasp at the nape of my neck.

The cold metal settled against my collarbone, a heavy, permanent promise.

When I turned back, he didn’t kiss me wildly.

He kissed me softly, reverently, like I was the most precious thing he had ever held.

“Eww,” a tiny voice interrupted.

We broke apart.

Ellie was standing there, covering her eyes with her hands, though she was peeking through her fingers.

Luca laughed. A genuine, deep sound that I had never heard from him before.

He knelt down and scooped her into his arms, wincing slightly at his ribs, but holding her securely.

“Come on, troublemaker,” Luca said. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

“To the apartment?” Ellie asked, suddenly looking worried. “It’s all broken.”

“No,” Luca said firmly. “Not the apartment. You’re staying in the east wing. With me.”

He looked at me over her head. “Both of you.”

An hour later, the police had cleared out. Mrs. Carter had directed a small army of staff to clean the mess.

I stood in the doorway of the master suite’s adjoining room.

It was massive. The bed was like a cloud.

Ellie was already fast asleep under the heavy down comforter, clutching the broken pocket watch in one hand and my apron in the other.

She looked completely, utterly safe.

I felt a heavy weight settle over my shoulders.

I jumped slightly, turning around.

Luca stood behind me. He had draped his massive, wool winter overcoat across my shoulders to keep me warm in the drafty house.

He had changed into a clean shirt, his arm bandaged.

“She’s out,” I whispered.

“She’s strong. Like her mother.” Luca pulled the edges of the heavy coat around me, pulling me back against his chest.

I leaned into him, closing my eyes.

“I don’t know how to be a mafia boss’s girlfriend,” I admitted quietly.

Luca kissed the top of my head.

“You don’t have to be. You just have to be Madison. I’ll handle the rest.”

I looked down at the gold crest resting on my chest.

I wasn’t a maid anymore. I wasn’t a victim. I wasn’t an abandoned wife.

I was the woman who broke Marco’s jaw. The woman who stood up to the Matriarch.

And the woman Luca Moretti loved.

I turned in his arms, wrapping the heavy coat around both of us.

“Then handle me,” I whispered.

He smiled, leaning down to kiss me again.

And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t terrified of what tomorrow would bring.

We were home.

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