Chapter 6 - The Countermove
Agent Davis’s jaw slackened. For a woman whose career was built on terrorizing vulnerable mothers, the sudden introduction to apex predator politics left her completely unmoored.
"Stepdaughter?" Davis stammered, looking from Alessandro’s granite expression to the terrified toddler clinging to my neck. "Mr. Moretti, this is highly irregular. I have a sworn affidavit from Vanessa Cole stating—"
"From a woman I publicly humiliated and discarded less than twelve hours ago," Alessandro cut in, his voice gliding like a blade over silk. "A woman who, in her hysterical grief, decided to swat my fiancée’s child in a pathetic attempt at revenge."
He didn't wait for Davis to recover. He snapped his fingers. Rocco materialized instantly, handing Alessandro a velvet box.
Alessandro flipped it open. Inside rested a diamond the size of a quail egg, cut flawlessly and set in platinum. It wasn't the ostentatious, gaudy rock he had given Vanessa. This one was antique, profound, and heavy with history.
"My grandmother's ring," Alessandro said smoothly. He took my left hand, his thumb stroking my trembling knuckles, and slid the cold metal onto my ring finger. It fit perfectly. "We were keeping it private until the Cole merger was dissolved. Now that it is, the secret is out."
He turned his dark, lethal gaze back to the CPS agent. "If you would like to proceed with your investigation, Agent Davis, you can coordinate with my legal team at Sterling & Vance. But understand this: if you file a fraudulent report against my family, I will personally ensure your career is buried so deep you won’t be able to get a job guarding a crosswalk."
The two beat cops physically took a step back. Davis swallowed hard, the color draining from her face. She practically threw her clipboard into her briefcase.
"That won't be necessary," Davis clipped, her voice shaking. "My apologies for the intrusion, Mr. Moretti. Ms. Evans."
When the heavy doors clicked shut behind them, my knees gave out. I would have hit the marble floor, but Alessandro caught me, his strong arms wrapping around my waist, hoisting me back up.
"Breathe, Maya," he ordered, his chest pressed against my back.
May you like
"You just told the state of New York we’re getting married," I gasped, staring at the blinding diamond on my hand.
"I told them what they needed to hear to keep Emma out of the system." He released me, taking a step back to re-establish the professional distance. "Richard Cole is playing dirty. We play dirtier. From this second forward, you are the future Mrs. Moretti. The world needs to believe I left the Cole heiress for a woman I couldn't live without. It’s the only narrative that protects you, and the only one that destroys them."
