Chapter 5 - A Fresh Start
Vincent looked down at Sophie, who was snoring softly, entirely unaware of the dangerous world she had stepped into.
"No child should have to beg for her mother's life," Vincent replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "And no mother should be beaten over scraps of paper."
Elena lowered her gaze. "I borrowed money for her medicine last winter. I couldn't pay the interest. They said they were going to take her."
A dark shadow passed over Vincent’s face, but he quickly composed himself. "The men who hurt you are gone. The man they work for will be dealt with by morning. You owe nothing."
Elena began to cry, overwhelmed by relief and residual terror. "How can I ever repay you, Mr. Corleto?"
"You don't," Vincent stated firmly. "But you can't go back to that apartment. It's not safe. I own a bakery on the north side of town. It has a secure apartment upstairs. You’ll manage the books, and Sophie will go to the school down the street. It’s legitimate work, and nobody will ever bother you there."
Elena stared at him in disbelief. She had expected a trap, a dark bargain in exchange for her life. Instead, she was being offered a lifeline.
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"Thank you," she choked out, closing her eyes.
Vincent gently adjusted his coat over the sleeping child in his arms. For the first time in years, the coldness in his chest felt a little lighter. He had spent his life building an empire on fear, but as he held little Sophie, he realized that true power wasn't in taking lives—it was in saving them.
