Chapter 10 - The Shield
Rumors swirled through the mansion and the city's underbelly. Whispers of Daniel Sterling breaking a multimillion-dollar alliance over a pregnant maid traveled fast. Some of his lieutenants questioned his judgment, suggesting he was showing weakness.
Daniel silenced them instantly. During a meeting with his top men in the estate's lower levels, he made his stance brutally clear.
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"Elara is under my personal protection," Daniel stated, his voice echoing off the concrete walls. "Any disrespect toward her, any whisper of gossip, and you will answer to me directly. Is that understood?"
A chorus of swift, nervous agreements filled the room. Daniel was establishing a perimeter around her, shielding her not just from Victoria's lingering malice, but from the dangerous world he inhabited. Upstairs, Elara remained blissfully unaware of the mafia politics, feeling something she hadn't felt in a very long time: entirely safe.
