Chapter 8 - The Dawn of a New Empire
Dante walked through the front doors of his mansion as the sun began to rise over the horizon.
He was exhausted. There was blood on his cuffs, and the smell of gunpowder clung to his jacket.
He stripped off the tactical vest, carefully pulling out Lily’s pink stuffed bunny and placing it gently on the entryway console.
He walked quietly upstairs to the secure wing.
When he opened the door to the master suite, he expected them to be asleep.
Instead, Elena was sitting up in the massive bed, her knees pulled to her chest. The three girls were fast asleep, tangled in the blankets beside her.
When Elena saw him, she let out a choked breath and flew across the room.
She slammed into his chest, her arms wrapping around his neck with desperate strength.
“You’re alive,” she cried, kissing his jaw, his cheek, his lips.
“I’m alive,” Dante murmured, holding her tightly, feeling her heart beat against his. “It’s over, Elena. Lorenzo is gone. Marco is gone. The entire syndicate has bent the knee. There is no one left to hurt you. You never have to hide again.”
Elena wept tears of pure relief, sliding down to the floor, pulling Dante down with her.
They sat on the plush carpet in the early morning light, just holding each other. The nightmare that had started seven years ago on a rainy highway was finally, truly over.
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“What happens now?” Elena whispered.
“Now,” Dante smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her beautiful face, “we make pancakes.”
