Rescued by Darkness

Aftermath

The mansion was eerily calm the next morning, as if the violence of the previous night had been a distant nightmare. But the D'Angelos knew better. The war with the Russians had left its mark, not only on the family's enemies but on each of them in ways that couldn't be seen.

Lorenzo sat at the large wooden table in the dining room, sipping his coffee, his mind still replaying the events at the warehouse. The house was unusually quiet. Alessia had taken Luciana for a morning nap, and his sons were scattered around the estate, their energy low after the night's battle.

The lingering threat had been neutralized for now, but there was still tension in the air. They had won a major battle, but Lorenzo knew this was far from over. The underworld had rules, and retaliation was inevitable. Every faction in the mafia would be watching now, waiting to see what came next.

He couldn't afford to lose focus.

The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Nico entered the room, his face still bruised from a brawl with one of the Russians the night before. He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down across from his father.

"Morning," Nico said, his voice raspy from lack of sleep.

"Morning," Lorenzo replied, his gaze hard as he studied his eldest son.

Nico leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's next, Dad? Sergei's dead, but this isn't over. You know that, right?"

Lorenzo nodded. "It's never over in this business. But we've made our message clear. They won't come for us easily again."

Nico's jaw tightened. "I still don't trust the men we have in place. There's always the possibility of another rat."

Lorenzo's eyes darkened at the thought. They had dealt with the mole within their ranks, but there was always a risk of betrayal. It was part of the life they lived.

"That's why we're tightening security. No one gets close to the family without my approval," Lorenzo said firmly. "We can't afford another mistake."

Nico nodded, but there was a glint of anger in his eyes. He had taken the attack on their family personally, especially when it came to Luciana. Lorenzo knew his sons were fiercely protective of their little sister, and Nico, in particular, felt responsible for not stopping the mole sooner.

"You did what you could," Lorenzo said, reading his son's thoughts. "We found him, and we took care of it. That's all that matters now."

Nico grunted in acknowledgment, though the guilt still lingered. "We need to keep an eye on our allies. Make sure none of them are getting any ideas. If we show any weakness, they'll come for us."

Lorenzo gave a nod of agreement. "I've already spoken with our most trusted men. We'll hold a meeting soon to reaffirm alliances. Anyone who shows even the slightest hint of disloyalty will be dealt with immediately."

Before the conversation could continue, the door to the dining room creaked open. Alessia appeared, carrying Luciana in her arms. The baby's face was still soft with sleep, her light brown hair sticking up in small tufts. Lorenzo's expression softened immediately, the coldness of the conversation vanishing the moment he saw his daughter.

Luciana stirred in Alessia's arms, her green eyes fluttering open. As soon as she saw Lorenzo, her tiny face lit up with a sleepy smile, and she reached her chubby arms toward him.

Lorenzo's heart melted. It had only been a few days since Luciana had been rescued, and yet every time he saw her, he felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness, a primal need to keep her safe from the dangers that lurked in their world.

He rose from his seat and took her into his arms, cradling her gently against his chest. Luciana cooed softly, her small hands gripping the collar of his shirt.

"How is she?" Lorenzo asked Alessia, his voice lower, more tender now.

"Better," Alessia said with a tired smile. "She's still scared of new people, but she's eating more, and she slept through most of the night."

Lorenzo nodded, holding Luciana a little closer. He couldn't shake the memory of her bruised and battered body when they had finally gotten her back. The image haunted him, and every time he looked at her now, he made a silent vow to never let anyone hurt her again.

Nico watched the interaction silently, his own features softening as he looked at his sister. Despite the chaos of their lives, Luciana had become a beacon of light for the family, a reminder of what they were fighting to protect.

"She's tough, like her father," Nico said, his tone lighter now.

Lorenzo smirked, but there was a softness in his eyes as he gazed down at Luciana. "She'll need to be, with the life we lead."

Alessia stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Lorenzo's waist as she rested her head against his shoulder. "She has us. We'll protect her, always."

Lorenzo leaned down to kiss the top of Alessia's head, his heart swelling with love for his family. But as he looked out the window at the expansive estate, the tension returned. They had won a battle, but the war was far from over.

And with Luciana in his arms, Lorenzo knew one thing for certain: no one would ever threaten his family again without facing his full wrath.

Later that day, the family gathered in Lorenzo's study. The air was thick with anticipation, everyone knowing that what came next would determine their future. They had dealt with the immediate threat, but now they had to ensure that every loose end was tied.

Lorenzo stood at the head of the room, his sons surrounding him. Nico, Xander, Leo, Mason, and Cassio—all of them wore the same determined expression. They were ready for whatever came next.

"We've confirmed there's been communication between the remaining Russian factions," Lorenzo said, his voice cold and calculated. "They're planning a retaliation, but we'll be ready."

Rocco, standing by the window, chimed in. "We've increased security at every location. No one gets close to the family without us knowing."

Lorenzo nodded. "Good. But that's not enough. I want eyes on every Russian family. Every associate. Anyone who even whispers about coming for us. We need to end this before they get another chance."

Nico stepped forward. "We'll handle it, Dad. They won't touch us again."

Lorenzo looked at his eldest son, pride swelling in his chest. He had raised his boys to be strong, capable leaders, and now they were stepping up when it mattered most.

"One more thing," Lorenzo added, his voice lowering slightly. "We'll be officially announcing Luciana as part of the family. She's a D'Angelo now, and everyone needs to know that she is to be protected at all costs."

There was a murmur of agreement from the room. Luciana had quickly become the heart of the family, and no one would let any harm come to her.

Lorenzo's gaze hardened. "Anyone who threatens her, anyone who even thinks about hurting her, will regret it."

The room fell silent, the gravity of his words hanging in the air. The D'Angelo family had always been feared, but now, with Luciana in the picture, their determination to protect what was theirs had intensified.

As the meeting ended and the brothers left to carry out their tasks, Lorenzo lingered in the study for a moment, his thoughts once again returning to his daughter. He would give her the world, no matter what it took.

But for now, he would also give her his protection.

No one would dare come for Luciana again.