Chapter 8 - The Aftermath
The drive back to the estate was silent and heavy.
Alessandro sat alone in the back of a fresh, secure SUV driven by one of his shadow guards.
The adrenaline had faded, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion that settled into his muscles.
He stared at his hands, scrubbing absently at the dried blood on his knuckles.
He had saved his empire, but he had lost his oldest friend and his trusted cousin in a single morning.
The heavy iron gates of the estate swung open, welcoming the master back to his fortress.
The courtyard was swarming with loyal men, the true guards who had been kept in the dark by Filippo’s lies.
Alessandro stepped out of the vehicle, his face an unreadable mask of authority.
He walked directly toward the east wing, descending the stairs into the underground garage.
A medical team was already there, respectfully lifting Paolo’s covered body onto a gurney.
Alessandro stood quietly, removing his suit jacket and bowing his head in profound respect.
Paolo had been a good man, a loyal servant who had died simply because he stood in the way of ambition.
"Make sure his family is taken care of," Alessandro ordered his lieutenant.
"They will never want for anything, for the rest of their generations."
He turned away from the grim scene and walked back up the stairs toward his private study.
The mansion felt different now, colder, yet undeniably safer.
He opened the door to his study, the heavy wood creaking softly in the quiet house.
Sophia was still sitting on the edge of the leather sofa, her arms wrapped fiercely around her sleeping child.
May you like
She looked up, her eyes wide with terror as she saw the blood staining her employer's shirt.
But Alessandro just offered her a weary, genuine smile, dropping his gun onto the desk.
