783 He woke with his hand around a housekeeper and his pistol inches away—and instead of calling security, Victor made a choice that changed her future.

The rain poured heavily over Pier 4 as a black luxury sedan skidded to a halt in front of an abandoned shipping warehouse.

Tessa stepped out into the storm, her silk dress soaking at the hem, holding the small silver pistol concealed beneath her coat.

Inside the warehouse, four Falcone enforcers were playing cards around a rusted oil drum, while a ten-year-old boy was tied to a wooden chair in the corner, crying quietly.

Tessa pushed open the side door. The rusty hinges screeched.

The four men spun around, drawing their weapons.

"Well, well," the lead guard sneered, recognizing her immediately from the council dossiers. "The maid came herself. Did you drink the wine, sweetheart?"

"No," Tessa said, her voice echoing through the vast metal warehouse. "She didn't."

Before the guard could react, heavy iron doors on the opposite side of the building blew off their hinges.

A fleet of black armored trucks smashed through the corrugated metal walls. Dozens of Romano enforcers, led by Paulie, swarmed the warehouse with military precision.

Victor stepped out of the lead truck.

He hadn't stayed at the gala. The moment Sarah confessed to Tessa, the estate's internal security alarms had alerted Victor. When he discovered Tessa had gone to Pier 4 alone to save a child, he had launched his entire force across the city.

The four Falcone guards dropped their weapons instantly, raising their hands in absolute terror.

Victor ignored them. He strode across the blood-slicked concrete straight toward Tessa.

His face was a terrifying mask of fury and panic. He grabbed her arms, scanning her from head to toe.

"Are you insane?" Victor roared over the sound of rain beating against the metal roof. "You came here alone?! You could have been killed!"

Tessa looked right back into his furious eyes, standing her ground without flinching.

"A boy was going to die because of me, Victor!" she shouted back. "I wasn't going to let them use another innocent person!"

Victor stared at her. The sheer, uncompromising bravery of this woman—a woman who had once flinched at the sound of a mop falling—left him completely speechless.

He pulled her fiercely into his arms, burying his face in her wet hair, his heart hammering wildly against his chest.

"You terrifying, beautiful fool," Victor rasped, holding her so tightly she could feel the absolute desperation in his grip. "If anything happened to you, I would have burned this entire city to the ground."

Paulie walked over, untying Sarah’s young brother and wrapping him in a dry blanket.

"Boss," Paulie said, looking at Victor with new, profound respect. "Falcone tried to poison Mrs. Romano. What are your orders?"