Chapter 6 - THE TURNING POINT
The parlor grew quiet once more, save for the crackling of the fire in the hearth.
Clara stood near the entrance, her chest heaving, tears of shock and overwhelming relief streaming down her face. For the first time in her life, she wasn't hiding. For the first time, someone had stood between her and her abuser and said, No more.
She wiped her cheeks with her trembling hands, looking up at Matteo as he walked back toward her, his expression softening just a fraction.
"Are you alright?" Matteo asked, his voice losing its lethal edge, replaced by a quiet, genuine concern.
"I... I think so," Clara breathed, her knees feeling weak beneath her. "I spent two years believing that if I fought back, or if I ran away, he would eventually hunt me down and destroy me. I thought I was permanently trapped."
"You were never trapped, Clara," Matteo said gently, stopping just inches away from her. "You were simply fighting alone. In this city, no one fights alone unless they choose to."
Clara looked up into his slate-gray eyes, seeing the ruthless mafia boss fade away, leaving only the man who had seen her pain, recognized her strength, and drawn a line in the sand that no one dared cross.
Impulsively, before her rational mind could stop her, Clara stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Matteo's waist, burying her face in the crisp fabric of his white shirt.
For a fraction of a second, Matteo stiffened, entirely unaccustomed to spontaneous physical affection from anyone, let alone a member of his domestic staff. But a heartbeat later, his strong, calloused arms came up around her, holding her securely against his chest, as if shielding her from the rest of the world.
May you like
"Thank you, Matteo," she whispered against his shirt.
"You don't need to thank me, Clara," he murmured into her hair, his hand gently resting against the back of her head. "You earned every ounce of protection this house can offer."
