Rescued by Darkness

The Rising Threat

The D'Angelo estate was unusually quiet in the days following Luciana's official adoption. The calm was unsettling for Lorenzo, whose life in the mafia had taught him that silence often preceded chaos. His thoughts were consumed by the responsibility of protecting his newly adopted daughter, a feeling that had once been familiar but forgotten over the years. Holding Luciana reminded him of when his boys were infants—those sleepless nights filled with crying, feeding, and care. Yet with Luciana, it was different. She was his princess, the daughter he never had, and his protective instincts were even fiercer.

Late one evening, Lorenzo sat in his study, reviewing business reports. His thoughts were split between running his empire and ensuring Luciana's safety. The weight of his responsibilities was heavy, but thoughts of Luciana brought a strange sense of peace. Upstairs, she slept in her crib, safe for the moment, but the looming threats kept him on edge.

A sharp knock at the door broke his focus. Rocco entered with a grim expression. Lorenzo immediately sensed bad news.

"We've got a problem," Rocco began, his voice low. "The Russians are making moves again, sniffing around our territory. Worse, they know about Luciana."

Lorenzo's heart sank, a dangerous coldness creeping into his expression. "They know about her?" he asked, his voice low and controlled, though the anger simmered beneath the surface.

Rocco nodded. "They're talking. They think you've gone soft, that having her is a weakness they can exploit."

Lorenzo's jaw tightened, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests of his chair. "Luciana is off-limits. Anyone who even thinks of using her will regret it."

"They might already have a rat on the inside," Rocco continued cautiously. "That's the only way they'd know so much."

Lorenzo's eyes darkened, the thought of a traitor within his ranks fueling his rage. A rat was the last thing he needed, especially now, with Luciana's life at risk. "If there's a rat, I'll find them. And I'll handle it personally."

Rocco nodded. "We need to double security—more men, more eyes on the house. We can't afford any mistakes."

"Do it," Lorenzo ordered. "And find out who's feeding them information. No one betrays this family and walks away alive."

As Rocco left, Lorenzo remained seated, seething in silence. The thought of the Russians targeting Luciana made his blood boil. The idea of a rat in his ranks only deepened his fury. But just as his anger reached its peak, the door opened again—this time, it was Alessia, cradling Luciana in her arms.

"She woke up," Alessia said softly, stepping into the room. Luciana looked around, her big green eyes wide with curiosity. When her gaze landed on Lorenzo, she reached out her tiny arms for him.

Lorenzo's heart softened at the sight of her. He stood and gently took Luciana from Alessia, cradling the tiny girl against his chest. Despite the storm raging in his mind, the second Luciana was in his arms, the tension began to melt away. Her soft coos, the way she snuggled into him—it was enough to quiet his anger, at least for a moment.

"She was restless," Alessia said, watching the way Luciana calmed instantly in her husband's arms. "Couldn't get her to settle down."

Lorenzo smiled down at Luciana, his large hand gently stroking her light brown hair. "You're safe now, princess," he whispered softly to her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. The world outside his door might have been filled with threats, but in this moment, nothing mattered except her.

Alessia came to stand beside him, her hand resting gently on his arm. "She's starting to feel more comfortable here," Alessia noted, though her eyes reflected the same worry Lorenzo felt. "But she's still scared of everyone else."

Lorenzo nodded, his gaze fixed on the little girl in his arms. "It'll take time. She's been through hell." His voice hardened slightly, the fury from earlier still bubbling under the surface. "But no one will ever hurt her again."

Luciana stirred in his arms, her tiny fingers gripping his shirt as she snuggled closer to him. Even as the weight of the looming threats pressed on his shoulders, Luciana had a way of making the world feel bearable. The potential of a rat within his organization was an infuriating thought, but holding her reminded him of why he fought so hard in the first place.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Lorenzo's lips as he looked down at his daughter. No matter how chaotic his world became, Luciana was his light.

"I'll head back up with her," Alessia said softly, brushing her hand gently over Luciana's cheek. But as soon as Alessia moved to take Luciana back, the baby girl whimpered, her arms clutching Lorenzo even tighter.

Alessia chuckled softly, her blue eyes meeting Lorenzo's. "Seems like she's quite the daddy's girl."

Lorenzo grinned, his chest swelling with a warmth he hadn't felt in years. "All the boys were mamma's boys," he said, amused by the contrast. "But this one... she's mine."A

lessia smiled softly, watching the way Luciana clung to him, clearly feeling safest in her father's arms. "She knows you'll protect her."

Lorenzo gave a small nod, though the weight of that truth hung heavily on him. He would protect her. At all costs.

Later that night, after discussing business with Rocco and sending a flurry of orders to tighten security, Lorenzo headed upstairs to his bedroom. The house was quiet now, with guards posted around the estate. He opened the door to the master suite, his eyes immediately drawn to the small crib beside their bed where Luciana was sleeping soundly.

Her tiny form was peaceful, her soft breathing filling the room with a sense of calm. Lorenzo walked over quietly, standing by her crib as he watched her sleep. Her little fists were curled under her chin, her soft hair spread across the pillow. She looked so serene, so safe, and the sight of her brought a smile to Lorenzo's face.

For a moment, everything seemed right in the world. But as he turned away from the crib and made his way to the bed, that smile quickly hardened into a scowl. The rat. The threat from the Russians. The looming danger surrounding them. His fury bubbled to the surface again, the weight of protecting Luciana more intense than ever.

He would ensure no harm came to her—no matter what.