Page 66 of Mafia Kingdom

She takes my hand reluctantly, her grip tentative. "I don't believe I had much choice in the matter."

Fair enough. I incline my head in acknowledgment of her honesty. "Nevertheless, you and Lily will be well protected here. You have my word."

"Your word," she repeats, something like bitter amusement in her tone. "And what exactly is that worth, Mr. Walsh?"

Before I can respond, Sasha joins us, one arm still around Lily's shoulders. "Karen, please. Marco is helping us."

Karen's eyes dart between us, clearly noting the familiar way Sasha says my name, the comfortable proximity we maintain. "I see," she says, her disapproval evident. "Perhaps someone will eventually explain to me exactly what kind of trouble my brother has gotten us into this time."

"It's complicated," Sasha begins, but I cut in smoothly.

"You must be tired from the journey. Tony will show you to your rooms—we've prepared an entire wing for your comfortand privacy." I signal to Tony, who steps forward obligingly. "Once you've settled in, we can discuss the situation in full."

Karen seems about to object, but a tug from Lily distracts her. "Aunt Karen, look at how big this place is! It's like a castle!"

The childish wonder in Lily's voice softens Karen's expression. "Yes, it is rather…impressive."

"You have your own bathroom, and a TV, and everything," Sasha tells Lily, her smile warm despite the tension. "And wait until you see Buddy—he's missed you so much."

At the mention of the dog, Lily's face lights up. "Buddy's here? Where is he?"

"Probably napping in my room. We'll find him after you're settled, okay?"

As Tony leads Karen and Lily inside, Sasha turns to me, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you," she says softly. "For bringing them here, for keeping them safe."

I brush a strand of hair from her face, allowing myself a moment of tenderness despite the watching eyes of my security team. "They're your family. That makes them mine too now."

She leans into my touch, a subtle acknowledgment of the shift in our relationship. "Karen will have questions. A lot of them."

"She deserves answers," I agree. "But how much to tell her is your decision."

Sasha sighs, conflict evident in her expression. "How do I explain any of this? 'Sorry about the armed guards, Karen, but I've fallen for a mafia boss whose enemies might try to kidnap us'?"

Despite the gravity of the situation, I find myself smiling at her blunt summary. "Maybe not quite like that.”

She shakes her head, but there's a glimmer of humor in her eyes. "This is insane, you know that, right? All of it—you, me, whatever this is between us."

"Completely," I agree, taking her hand and leading her back toward the house. "But then, nothing about us has ever been conventional."

Inside, we find Lily already racing through the grand hallway, Buddy bounding at her heels, having somehow located her within minutes of her arrival. The dog's excited barking echoes through the usually somber house, bringing life to spaces long accustomed to silence and secrets.

Tony approaches, his expression professionally neutral despite the unusual domestic scene unfolding in the heart of Walsh territory. "The east wing is secured, Boss. Additional guards posted at all access points."

"Good. Any updates on our other situation?"

"Target is still at the Shelbourne. No movement since this morning."

Deckie O'Reilly, staying at Dublin's most prestigious hotel—a bold statement in itself. The man isn't bothering to hide his presence, suggesting either arrogance or a level of confidence in his position that concerns me.

"Double the surveillance," I instruct. "I want to know if he so much as orders room service."

Tony nods and withdraws, leaving Sasha and me watching as Lily examines the antique grandfather clock in the foyer. Her childish curiosity a stark contrast to the somber artifacts of Walsh history surrounding her.

"She seems to be taking this well," I observe.

Sasha's expression softens as she watches her sister. "Lily's resilient. Always has been, even after Mom died." She glances at me, hesitation in her eyes. "But this isn't a permanent solution, Marco. She needs stability, normalcy. A home where she doesn't have to walk past armed guards every morning."

The comment stings more than it should, a reminder of how different our worlds are. "What are you saying?"

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