Chapter 6 - The Legacy of Bellini’s
Another year passed, and the story of the Russo family’s war against the Lycan Syndicate had become a legend in the Chicago streets. It was a story of a mafia boss who had broken his own rules to protect two little girls who had done nothing more than ask for help.
At Bellini’s cafe, the rain was falling again, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting.
Tessa was behind the counter, pouring coffee for a group of local businessmen. The bell above the door chimed, and Nathan Russo walked in, shaking the water from his umbrella.
He walked toward his usual booth—the one in the back, near the corner window.
But today, the booth wasn't empty.
Sitting in his spot were two ten-year-old girls, their identical faces lit up by the glow of a shared tablet. June was wearing her signature purple glasses, now with a small silver star sticker on the corner of the frame. Jade was leaning against her shoulder, pointing at the screen and laughing.
Evelyn sat opposite them, sipping a latte and chatting with Tessa over the counter.
When June saw Nathan, she didn't run this time. She simply smiled, slid over on the vinyl seat, and patted the space beside her.
“We saved your seat, Mr. Nathan,” she said.
Nathan walked over, slid his heavy wool coat off, and hung it on the rack. He sat down in the booth, his silver ring catching the warm light of the cafe. He looked at the two girls, then at Evelyn, who gave him a warm, knowing nod.
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“Thank you, June,” Nathan said, his voice soft and steady as he took a sip of the hot black coffee Tessa had already placed on the table for him. “It’s the best seat in the house.”
The rain continued to beat against the windows of Bellini’s, but inside, the cold of the world couldn't reach them anymore. They had found their sanctuary, built not on fear or power, but on the simple, unbreakable promise of a man who had chosen to be a shield.
