Chapter 8 - THE DAWN AFTER
Two weeks later, the morning sun poured through the spotless windows of my newly renovated apartment. The local news had spent the last forty-eight hours broadcasting the massive federal raid on Marco Vance's shipping empire, complete with seized ledgers, smuggled cargo, and simultaneous arrests. Marco was behind bars, facing federal charges that would ensure he never saw daylight again.
My shoulder still throbbed slightly beneath a neat white bandage, a permanent reminder of the night my quiet world shattered and rebuilt itself into something far more real.
The front buzzer of my building chimed softly.
I walked over to the intercom and pressed the button. “Who is it?”
“Delivery for the pharmacy's bravest resident,” a deep, familiar voice replied.
I unlocked the door, and a minute later, a soft knock sounded. I pulled it open to find Dominic standing in the doorway, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers in one hand and a small, familiar velvet box in the other. He wasn't wearing his usual armor of cold indifference; instead, there was a tentative, genuine warmth in his eyes.
“You shouldn't have,” I said, stepping aside to let him in.
“Gemma sends her love,” Dominic said, setting the flowers on the counter before turning back to face me. “She's currently in Europe, under heavy guard, learning how to be reckless somewhere far away from Chicago politics.”
“Good. She needed a vacation.” I leaned against the kitchen counter, crossing my arms with a small smile. “And what about you? Shouldn't you be running an empire?”
Dominic stepped closer, closing the distance between us until I could feel the heat radiating off his frame. He lifted the small velvet box and opened it. Inside wasn't Gemma's silver promise ring this time, but a heavy, beautifully crafted gold band inlaid with a single, flawless diamond.
“My empire can wait,” Dominic whispered, his gaze dropping to my lips before rising back to meet my eyes with absolute certainty. “I spent my whole life protecting people by pushing them away. But you walked straight into the dark to save us both.”
He gently took my hand, sliding the gold ring onto my finger.
“I know you built those walls to keep danger out,” he continued softly, his thumb brushing my skin. “Let me prove to you that you don't need walls anymore.”
May you like
I looked down at the ring, then up into the eyes of the man who ruled the Chicago underworld yet looked at me like I was his entire world. For the first time in twenty-three years, I didn't feel the need to protect myself.
“You better make good on that promise, Dominic Russo,” I whispered, smiling as I pulled him down for a kiss that changed my future forever.
