Chapter 22 - Whispers of the Past
The autumn breeze rustled through the manicured trees of the Santoro estate, painting the sprawling lawns in shades of gold and amber. It was a crisp Sunday morning, the kind of quiet, peaceful day that Tessa had dreamed of during her early months as a silent ghost inside the fortress.
Inside the private kitchen, Tessa stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing an oversized cashmere sweater and comfortable lounge pants, whisking pancake batter in a ceramic bowl. The aroma of freshly brewed espresso filled the air.
Heavy footsteps padded softly across the tiles, and strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her flush against a warm, solid chest. Leo rested his forehead against her neck, breathing in the scent of vanilla and coffee.
"You're up early," Leo mumbled sleepily, his morning voice deep and gravelly.
"Someone has to feed the master of the universe," Tessa laughed softly, turning around in his embrace to face him. Leo wore simple black sweatpants and a fitted gray t-shirt, his dark hair slightly messy from sleep, looking every bit the handsome, grounded man she loved rather than a terrifying syndicate king.
Just then, a soft scratching sound echoed from the heavy oak back door leading to the garden.
Tessa smiled brightly. "That must be Buster."
Leo raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "You invited Greg and his golden retrievers over for brunch again?"
"Greg is working on a financial audit downtown, and he asked if we could watch Buster for the afternoon," Tessa explained defensively, walking over to unlock the door.
The moment the heavy wood swung open, a large, golden retriever bounded joyfully into the kitchen, tail wagging frantically as it circled Tessa's legs, followed closely by a second, younger pup.
Leo watched the two golden retrievers inspect the kitchen with a dry, stoic expression. "I never thought I'd see the day the head of the Santoro empire shares his kitchen with two oversized dogs."
May you like
"Times change, Leo," Tessa laughed, setting down a bowl of water for the dogs before returning to her husband. She wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up into his dark eyes with a playful smirk. "Besides, you have to admit they have better table manners than your old capos."
Leo let out a rich, genuine laugh, pulling her tightly against his body. "That is an undeniably low bar, my love."
