Chapter 6 - Shadows over New York
The next morning, the reality of what had occurred in the conservatory exploded across the underworld of New York.
By noon, news had leaked through the syndicate grapevines that the high-profile engagement between Dominic Rossi and Bianca Moretti had been abruptly canceled hours before the midnight toast. Gossip was rampant. Some claimed Dominic had found another woman; others rumored that Bianca had insulted the Rossi matriarch. But only a select few inside the inner circle knew the absolute truth: a maid had taken a blow meant for Carmela Rossi, and Dominic had publicly stripped the Moretti heiress of her engagement ring.
Inside the Rossi estate, the shift in atmosphere was immediate and intense. Armed guards in tactical gear replaced the tuxedo-clad security men in the hallways. The perimeter gates were reinforced, and bulletproof SUVs lined the long private driveway. The estate was effectively on high alert, preparing for the inevitable retaliation from Don Carmine Moretti.
I woke up late that morning, my face aching with a dull, throbbing pain as the anesthetic completely wore off. I stood in front of the massive bathroom mirror, looking at my reflection. The white bandage on my right cheek was neat, but my right eye was slightly bruised, surrounded by a light purplish hue. I looked tired, bruised, and small, but beneath the pain, there was a strange, newfound strength lingering inside me.
A knock came at my bedroom door. It was Maria, the senior housekeeper who had previously given me my daily cleaning assignments. She walked into the room carrying a large silver tray stacked with fresh fruits, warm croissants, eggs, and rich coffee.
Her posture toward me had completely changed. Where she used to speak to me with stern, bossy efficiency, she now stood with her head slightly bowed, her eyes filled with immense respect—and a touch of nervousness.
"Good morning, Miss Skyler," Maria said respectfully, placing the heavy tray on the small table near the window.
I flinched slightly at the title. "Maria, please... just call me Skyler. You don't have to call me 'Miss.'"
"Mr. Rossi's strict orders, Skyler," Maria replied, offering a warm, apologetic smile. "You are no longer part of the domestic house staff. You are Mrs. Rossi’s official companion. The Boss made it very clear to everyone this morning: anyone who disrespects you will be dismissed immediately."
I sat down at the table, taking a sip of the warm coffee. "How is Mrs. Rossi doing today?"
"She woke up early," Maria said, her tone softening. "She’s lucid today. She’s been sitting in the rose garden asking for you every twenty minutes. She knows what happened last night, Skyler. She remembers everything."
I quickly finished my breakfast, dressed in a comfortable burgundy silk blouse and black trousers that had been placed in my wardrobe, and walked down to the rose garden.
Carmela was sitting on a stone bench beneath a large arching trellis covered in red roses. Two armed guards stood discreetly twenty feet away. When she saw me approaching, her pale face lit up with a brilliant, youthful smile.
"Skyler, my dear!" Carmela called out, reaching her arms open.
I hurried over and gently embraced her, careful not to press my bruised cheek against her shoulder. "Good morning, Mrs. Rossi."
Carmela took my face between her warm, delicate hands, her thumb resting just below my bandage. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked at my injury. "My poor girl... look what that terrible woman did to you. Dominic told me everything this morning. You protected me, Skyler. You stood in front of that vicious ring."
"I would do it again in a heartbeat, ma'am," I said honestly, sitting down next to her on the bench.
"You don't need to call me 'ma'am' anymore," Carmela said firmly, taking my hands into hers. "You are my family now. Dominic knows it, I know it, and this entire house knows it."
She looked off into the quiet garden, her eyes turning distant and serious. "The Morettis are dangerous people, Skyler. Carmine is a bloodthirsty snake, and Bianca is a spoiled cobra. They will not let this humiliation slide. They will strike back, and they will try to target anything Dominic cares about."
She turned her gaze back to me, her eyes locking onto mine with a fierce intensity. "And right now, child... Dominic cares about you."
My heart gave a sudden, violent thump inside my chest. "Mrs. Rossi, he’s just being protective because I helped you—"
"I know my son," Carmela interrupted smoothly, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. "I have seen him execute men without blinking an eye. I have seen him destroy multi-million dollar corporations with a single phone call. I have never, in thirty years, seen him carry a bleeding servant up to his private wing, hold her hand while she was stitched up, and stand up to the entire Moretti family for her honor."
I felt a warm flush creep up my neck, spreading into my cheeks. I didn't know how to respond. The thought of Dominic Rossi—the powerful, cold mob boss—caring for me in that way felt like a fever dream.
Before I could say anything, the sound of heavy footsteps crunching across the gravel path broke our conversation.
Dominic was walking toward us, flanked by Marco. He had traded his tuxedo for a sharp, dark charcoal suit, his broad shoulders filling out the fabric perfectly. He looked cold, formidable, and entirely in control.
"Ma," Dominic said, bowing his head slightly to his mother before turning his gaze onto me. His icy blue eyes scanned my face, resting briefly on the bandage and the faint bruise around my eye. "How are you feeling today, Skyler?"
"Much better, Mr. Rossi," I answered, standing up respectfully. "The pain is manageable."
"Good," Dominic said. He turned to Marco. "Take my mother inside for her afternoon resting hour."
"Yes, Boss." Marco offered his arm to Carmela, who gave my hand one last affectionate squeeze before letting her son take over the space.
Once Carmela and Marco walked out of hearing range, Dominic turned back to me. The soft, gentle warmth he had shown in the medical suite last night was masked by a tight, professional urgency.
"Don Carmine Moretti just held an emergency council with the four major New York families," Dominic said quietly, stepping closer so his voice wouldn't carry. "He claimed I broke our contract without just cause and insulted his daughter. He wants a public summit tomorrow night at the neutral territory down at the Brooklyn Navy Yard."
My stomach tightened with anxiety. "A summit? Is it a trap?"
"Of course it's a trap," Dominic said coldly, his jaw clenching tightly. "Carmine wants to force me into a corner. He wants me to either apologize, pay a massive financial restitution, or hand over the person who 'caused' the scene."
He looked down at me, his eyes burning with an intense, unyielding fire. "He wants you, Skyler."
I took a sharp breath. "What are you going to do?"
May you like
Dominic reached out, his hand coming to rest firmly against the back of my neck, his fingers resting warm against my skin.
"I am going to the summit," Dominic whispered, his tone so dark and lethal it made a shiver run down my spine. "And I am bringing the video footage, the broken ring, and the full military force of the Rossi family. I am going to end the Morettis once and for all."
