Page 126 of Lupo

Then I see it. The old textile factory with the lights on inside.

"There," I say.

Ciro pulls up outside. I'm out of the van before it fully stops, running toward the building.

"Boss, wait!" Ciro shouts. "It could be a trap!"

But I don't care. Don't care about tactics or caution or survival.

I only care about them.

I burst through the door into a large, empty space. Old machinery. Concrete floors. Dust.

And there huddled alone in the corner are Isabella and Elena.

Alive.

"Daddy!" Elena screams.

She runs to me and I catch her, lifting her up, holding her so tight she squeaks in protest.

"I've got you, sweetheart. I've got you. You're safe."

Isabella is standing now, staring at me. Her face is tear-stained. Her hands are shaking.

"Lupo."

She collapses against me and I hold them both.

My family. Safe. Alive.

Everything else can wait.

The questions. The explanations. The future.

Right now, all that matters is this.

The three of us together.

I bury my face in Isabella's hair, breathing in the scent of her, feeling Elena's arms tight around my neck, and I make myself a promise.

No one will ever threaten them again.

Because I am Don Alessandro Rossi.

And I protect what's mine.

Chapter 34: Isabella

The car is moving fast.

I'm in the back seat of a Mercedes. Bulletproof, Lupo said when he helped us in. The kind of car I expected to see after learning who he really is.

Elena is between us, pressed against my side, still trembling occasionally. But she's talking. Non-stop. The way children do when they're processing something frightening.

"And then the man said we were going to see you, Daddy, but we went to a big building instead and it was dark and Mama held me the whole time and I was brave, wasn't I, Mama? I didn't cry too much. And they took my rabbit and I was so sad but you got it back, right? You have my rabbit?"

"Yes, I have it." His voice is gentle.