Chapter 5 - The Guardian's Promise
Over the next two weeks, Mina’s life changed dramatically. Callahan’s Diner was temporarily closed for "renovations," but Mina continued to receive a generous paycheck directly from Dominic’s estate.
More surprisingly, Ezra kept asking for her.
The young boy had been traumatized by his abduction, refusing to eat or speak to most of the household staff. But when Mina visited the townhouse to return the warm clothes Dominic had lent her, Ezra smiled for the first time in days.
"Mina!" he had cried, running over to wrap his arms around her waist.
Seeing the bond between them, Dominic made Mina a proposal: "Work for me. Not as a maid or a servant, but as Ezra’s personal coordinator and guardian while I settle this war with Vance. I will double your income, provide you with secure housing, and ensure your absolute safety."
Mina hesitated. Stepping into Dominic’s world meant stepping into the line of fire. But looking down at Ezra’s hopeful eyes, she couldn't say no.
She moved into a charming guest suite on the top floor of the North End estate. Days were spent helping Ezra with his schoolwork, cooking traditional meals she learned from her mother, and bringing life back into the gloomy mansion.
Dominic, usually cold and distant, began coming home earlier for dinner. He watched Mina interact with his son, admiring her courage, her sharp wit, and the gentle warmth she brought into his cold, dangerous life.
"You smell like cinnamon," Dominic remarked one evening as he walked into the kitchen, finding her baking a pie.
"It’s an old recipe from Albuquerque," Mina said, offering him a small slice on a plate. "Better than the cardboard they served at Callahan's."
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Dominic took a bite, looking directly into her eyes. "It’s the best thing I’ve tasted in years."
For the first time, Mina saw the man behind the terrifying reputation—a grieving widower trying to protect the only thing left in his world.
