Chương 3 - The Golden Cage
The black armored Maybach glided through the towering wrought-iron gates of the Rosselli estate like a ghost cutting through the midnight mist. Alina sat in the plush leather backseat, completely rigid, baby Leo asleep against her chest. The infant’s breathing was soft and rhythmic, his little hand still clenched tightly around her thumb even in deep slumber.
Every time she had attempted to gently disengage her finger during the forty-minute drive up the coastal bluffs, Leo had whined and squirmed, threatening to awaken into panic. So, she stayed still, letting her fingers cramp rather than distress the fragile life in her lap.
Sitting across from her in the facing seat, Dante Rosselli watched her every movement with the predatory patience of a lion.
He had discarded his suit jacket, leaving him in a tailored charcoal vest that hugged his broad chest and narrow waist. The sleeves of his white silk shirt were rolled to his forearms, displaying corded muscle and a sleeve of intricate black tattoos that vanished into his collar.
"You have a natural touch with him," Dante remarked, breaking the silence. His deep baritone was low, attuned to the quietness of the sleeping infant.
"Children know when adults are lying," Alina replied softly, keeping her eyes fixed on Leo’s peaceful face. "They sense intent. He doesn't know about syndicates or debts. He just knows he's lonely."
A flash of raw pain flickered across Dante’s sharp jawline before his impassive mask slammed back into place. "His loneliness ends tonight. And so does yours."
The car pulled up to a grand circular driveway fronting a sprawling limestone mansion that looked more like an Old World fortress than a private residence. Armed guards in tactical gear patrolled the perimeter with trained German shepherds, their weapons held across their chests. As the car came to a complete stop, Luca opened the door, bowing his head with deep deference.
"Welcome home, Don Dante," Luca said quietly.
"Take Miss Valdez’s personal bag from the trunk and bring it to the master nursery," Dante ordered, stepping out into the crisp night air and offering a hand to Alina.
She hesitated, looking at his large, calloused palm. The dragon ink peeking above his collar seemed to writhe in the moonlight. Swallowing her pride, she took his hand. His grip was searing, engulfing her smaller, colder fingers with effortless strength as he helped her maneuver out of the vehicle without jostling the baby.
The estate’s grand foyer was cathedral-like, boasting vaulted ceilings, a cascading crystal chandelier, and twin sweeping marble staircases. A stern, middle-aged woman dressed in an immaculate housekeeper's uniform waited at the foot of the stairs, her hands clasped tightly.
"Mrs. Gable," Dante said, not breaking his stride as he led Alina inside. "This is Alina Valdez. She is Leo’s private guardian. Her word regarding my son’s care carries the same authority as my own. Prepare the adjoining suite off the primary nursery immediately."
Mrs. Gable blinked, stunned. "Sir? But the medical nannies from Zurich—"
"Are dismissed. Send them home with severance," Dante cut her off, cold and absolute. "Leo has made his choice."
The nursery on the second floor was massive, filled with state-of-the-art baby monitors, educational toys, and a crib carved from solid white oak. Yet, it felt hollow, sanitized, and devoid of warmth—more like a private clinic than a child’s sanctuary.
Carefully, Alina leaned over the crib, attempting to transfer the sleeping boy onto the soft mattress. The moment Leo’s back touched the sheets, his eyes snapped open. He took one look at the open space around him, realized Alina’s hand was pulling away, and let out an ear-piercing scream of betrayal.
"Leo, shh, I’m right here," Alina whispered frantically, leaning down again. But the boy thrashing his arms, his face turning purplish-red.
Dante stepped forward, his brow furrowed with distress, reaching to lift his son. But the moment Dante’s hands touched him, Leo wailed louder, twisting away toward Alina.
"Give him to me," Alina insisted, nudging Dante aside without thinking. She scooped the sobbing infant back into her arms, pressing him against her chest, swaying gently back and forth while humming a low, soothing melody her mother used to sing to her when fever ravaged her childhood.
May you like
*“Luna, lunita, cuídame bien... duerme la noche, descansa también...”*
Leo’s frantic
