Chapter 8 - The Last Rossi Enemy Came for the Woman He Couldn't Control
The final enemy wasn't interested in money.
He wanted revenge.
His name was Matteo Vieri.
He had been Alessandro's former partner.
He blamed Dominic for destroying everything.
He targeted me.
The first warning was a photograph.
Me leaving the clinic.
The second was Sofia at school.
Dominic nearly lost control.
I stopped him.
“If you become violent now, he wins.”
He looked at me.
“You're asking me not to protect you.”
“I'm asking you to protect us.”
We worked with federal investigators.
The plan was simple.
Expose Matteo.
Don't give him what he wanted.
He wanted Dominic to become the monster the old Rossi family had created.
We refused.
The final confrontation happened at the estate.
Matteo broke in.
He had six men.
Dominic had four security officers.
I had my medical bag.
It was almost funny.
Almost.
Gunfire erupted.
I hid Sofia in the safe room.
The same room.
The same titanium door.
The same place where Dominic had once locked me out.
This time he opened it.
He looked at me.
“Stay inside.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Mara.”
“You don't get to make that decision for me.”
He smiled.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
He closed the door.
But this time, he left it unlocked.
The battle ended quickly.
Matteo was captured.
No one in our family died.
Dominic stood in the foyer afterward.
Blood on his shirt.
I walked toward him.
He held me.
“You were right.”
“About what?”
“I needed to protect you without controlling you.”
I smiled.
“That was almost wise.”
“I'm learning.”
Sofia ran toward us.
He picked her up.
She touched the blood on his collar.
“Daddy hurt?”
“Not anymore.”
She kissed his cheek.
May you like
And I knew.
The cycle was over.
