Chapter Ten: The Revelation
The room seemed to tilt around her.
Eric.
The man who could barely commit to dinner plans.
Had stolen millions from someone like Alessio Russo.
It seemed impossible.
“I—I had no idea.”
She stammered.
Suddenly cold despite the warm room.
“We weren’t together long. He never mentioned—”
“I believe you.”
Russo interrupted.
“If you’d been complicit, you wouldn’t be living in that apartment. Working two jobs to survive.”
Relief flooded her.
Followed immediately by a new fear.
“Is that why I’m here? You think I can lead you to him?”
“No.”
His answer was swift and certain.
“I already know where he is. Or rather, where his body is.”
The blunt statement hit her like a physical blow.
“He’s dead.”
Russo regarded her steadily.
“Men who steal from me don’t tend to live long, happy lives.”
The implication was clear.
This man.
This dangerous, powerful man sitting across from her.
Had had Eric killed.
And she was now living in his house.
Accepting his charity.
Letting him near her daughter.
“I want to leave.”
She said, pushing back from the table.
Her appetite gone.
“Now.”
“Sit down, Harper.”
His voice was quiet.
But filled with authority.
“You’re in no danger from me. Neither is Lily.”
“You just admitted to having my daughter’s father killed.”
“The man abandoned you both without a second thought.”
Russo said coldly.
“Left you to struggle alone. Pregnant and vulnerable. He doesn’t deserve the title of father.”
He wasn’t wrong.
But that didn’t make the situation any less terrifying.
“Why am I here, then? If not to lead you to Eric, and not for—other reasons—then why all this?”
She gestured around at the opulent room.
Russo was silent for a long moment.
His dark eyes never leaving hers.
“Because she’s my niece.”
The words didn’t make sense at first.
“Lily.”
He clarified.
“She’s my brother’s daughter.”
“That’s impossible.”
She whispered.
Though even as she said it, connections began to form in her mind.
Eric’s dark eyes.
So similar to the ones watching her now.
The same strong jawline.
Though Eric’s had been softer somehow.
Less defined.
“Antonio was my younger brother.”
Russo continued.
His voice flat.
“He was always reckless. Used different names. Lived dangerously. I tried to give him a legitimate path, a position in my organization. But he preferred the thrill of the con.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
“Eric Lombard was just his latest identity.”
Her mind reeled with the implications.
“You’re saying Eric—Antonio—was your brother?”
“Yes. And the money he stole wasn’t just from my business. It was from our family.”
Russo’s expression darkened.
“He betrayed us all.”
“Did you know about me? About Lily?”
Her voice shook with the effort of controlling her emotions.
“Not until last night.”
He admitted.
“When I saw the baby bottle in your bag, something clicked. You mentioned his name, and the timing fit. I had my people confirm it this morning. DNA test from Lily’s medical samples.”
“You tested my daughter without my permission.”
Anger flared.
Temporarily overriding her fear.
“I needed to be certain.”
He didn’t sound remotely apologetic.
“She’s family, Harper. My blood. The only part of my brother that remains.”
Family.
The word hung between them.
Heavy with implication.
If what he said was true—and the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed—then Lily was tied to this man by blood.
To his wealth.
His power.
And yes, his dangerous world.
“What do you want from us?”
She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I want to provide for my niece.”
He replied simply.
“Give her the life she deserves. The Russo name. The Russo legacy.”
“And me? Where do I fit in this plan of yours?”
His gaze intensified.
“You’re her mother. Your place is with her. Helping her navigate this new world.”
He paused.
“The job offer is genuine, Harper. You’ll earn your keep. Maintain your independence. But Lily will be raised as a Russo. With all the privileges and protections that entails.”
It sounded reasonable.
Almost generous.
“And what if I refuse? What if I take Lily and leave?”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
“That would be unwise.”
He said softly.
“Not because I would harm you—I wouldn’t. But because out there, you’re vulnerable. My enemies—if they discovered Antonio had a child—”
He didn’t need to finish the thought.
The implication was clear.
Staying under his protection wasn’t just about luxury.
It was about survival.
“So I’m a prisoner here.”
The realization was bitter on her tongue.
“No. You’re family now.”
His expression softened fractionally.
“I protect my family, Harper. At any cost.”
