Chapter 3 - The Price of ProtectionThe silence in the grand study was so heavy that the ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner sounded like a sledgehammer.
Tessa looked from the terrifying old syndicate boss to Leo, whose jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle twitched violently in his cheek.
“What kind of role?” Tessa asked, her voice dropping into a cautious whisper.
Declan walked back to his desk, picking up his crystal tumbler and taking a slow sip before answering.
“The syndicate council meets in three days to vote on the succession,” Declan explained smoothly, his voice devoid of any warmth. “Dominic has been rallying the capos, claiming Leo is unstable, reclusive, and unfit to take control of our shipping and financial portfolios. If Dominic wins the council vote, my bloodline is pushed aside, and our empire fractures.”
“And what does that have to do with me?” Tessa demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m a waitress, Mr. Gallagher. I don't know anything about shipping ports or syndicate votes.”
“You know how to anchor him,” Declan said, pointing a finger directly at Leo. “You walked into a hostile room, tapped a rhythm, and made the silent heir stand up and lead. The capos saw it. Marcus saw it. And more importantly, Dominic saw it.”
Declan leaned forward across the desk, his eyes locking onto Tessa with predatory intensity.
“You are going to become Leo’s public partner,” Declan declared. “You will move into the Gallagher estate tomorrow morning. You will attend every gala, every board meeting, and every syndicate dinner by his side. You will be his anchor in public, and in exchange, every debt you have will vanish, your apartment building will be purchased by my shell corporation, and your future will be secured beyond your wildest dreams.”
Tessa stepped back, shaking her head. “No. No way. You’re asking me to step into the middle of a mafia war and pretend to be part of your world? That’s insane!”
“It’s a business proposal,” Declan corrected coldly. “You can walk out those doors right now, go back to your freezing apartment, and let the electric company shut off your power by midnight. Or you can accept protection and a position of power that no ordinary girl in this city ever sniffs.”
Tessa looked at Leo, desperate for him to intervene, to tell his father that this was madness.
Instead, Leo was staring at the floor, his expression dark, distant, and unreadable. When he finally lifted his eyes to meet hers, there was a deep, silent apology in his gaze—followed by an undeniable plea.
He needed her. Not just as a handler, but as a lifeline.
“And if I refuse?” Tessa asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“You won't refuse,” Declan said with absolute, horrifying certainty. “Because people like you don't walk away from a lifeline when the water is already over your head.”
Tessa swallowed hard, looking down at the financial dossier still resting on the desk. Her mind raced. She was drowning. Her sister—whom she sent half her paycheck to for medical supplies—was depending on her. Working two jobs was already killing her.
She looked back up at Declan, her green eyes flashing with a sudden, fierce defiance.
“If I do this,” Tessa said, her voice ringing clear across the room, “I set the terms. I am not your puppet, Mr. Gallagher. I am not a prop for your syndicate meetings. And if I play this role, I want it understood that nobody dictates how I speak or how I act.”
Declan blinked, taken aback for a fraction of a second by her sheer audacity. Then, a slow, approving smile touched his lips.
“Agreed,” Declan said. “Leo, escort your fiancée to the guest wing.”
Fiancée.
The word hit Tessa like a physical slap. She opened her mouth to argue, but Leo gently placed a warm, heavy hand on her shoulder, guiding her firmly toward the heavy oak doors.
As they stepped out into the quiet corridor, the doors clicked shut behind them.
Tessa whirled around to face him, her breath coming in hot gasps. “Fiancée? Are you kidding me? Your father just trapped me into a fake engagement with a mafia heir!”
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Leo didn't flinch. He looked down at her, his expression a mix of dark frustration and quiet gratitude.
“He didn't trap you into a fake engagement, Tessa,” Leo said softly, his voice vibrating with a strange, intense gravity. “He just signed a death warrant for anyone who tries to hurt you—starting with Dominic.”
