in his crib. The nursery was warm, bathed in the golden light of ear

t blinking steadily. It was her lifeline in this massive, guarded ma

fting Alessandro from his crib. He gurgled ha

he balanced Alessandro on her hip and swi

new "mafia boss" bo

couldn't help smiling.

baby's cute, though.

ld set the phone down, a sharp k

me

readable. He looked impeccable as always, his tailored sui

he said, his voi

lied, trying to kee

for him. For a fleeting moment, Leo's hard exterior cracked, and he smiled-a rea

ess. "You'll stay in the house. Security has been doubled, bu

. "Is someth

you need to concern yourself

a small chuckle. "Be good for Emma, little man." He kissed Alessandr

-

he silence broken only by Alessandro's occasional giggles. She tried to focus on him, playing w

onitor crackled to life. A faint noise-a d

at Alessandro, who was contentedly gnawing o

nd came

was in t

hich Leo had insisted she keep within reach at all times. A high-pitched alarm blar

en, and two armed

of them barked, h

guards disappeared down the hall. She could hear shouting,

ared in the doorway, hi

ened?" he

ed. "I heard something on the

rned to the guards. "Find

dded and h

r legs trembling. "Is Alessandro oka

d, unable

the right thing. The alarm likely scared them off. But this..." He ran a

a asked before she

d. "No one you nee

ing his first name. "I can't protect Ales

nothing. Then, with a heavy

hey'll use anyone-anything-to

t a chill dow

ooked at her. "That's why I need you

grip on Alessandro tighte

voice laced with an emotion

down at Alessandro, who was now

d. But deep down, she wondered if