Chapter 8 - A New Empire
Two years later.
The New York skyline glittered outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse suite.
I stood holding a glass of champagne, looking out over the city that we now completely controlled.
The Moretti family was stronger than ever, but it had changed. We had moved aggressively into legitimate businesses—real estate, shipping, and politics. The blood was still there, but it was hidden beneath layers of corporate polish.
I took a sip of my drink, feeling the heavy diamond ring on my left hand catch the light.
My left arm—the one that had been broken in that dingy apartment—now bore a beautiful, intricate tattoo of a phoenix rising from ash, covering the faint surgical scars.
The door to the suite opened, and Vincent walked in.
He looked as striking as the day he kicked my front door down, though there were a few more silver hairs at his temples.
He loosened his tie, throwing his jacket onto a chair, and walked straight toward me.
He wrapped his strong arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"The meeting with the mayor went well," he murmured, kissing my neck.
"Did he agree to the zoning permits for the new charity center?" I asked, leaning back into his warmth.
"He didn't have much of a choice after you politely reminded him of his offshore accounts," Vincent chuckled, his chest vibrating against my back. "You are more terrifying than I am, Mrs. Moretti."
I smiled, turning around in his arms to face him.
"I learned from the best."
He looked down at me, his eyes softening with that profound, unconditional love that he reserved only for me.
"Do you ever miss it?" he asked suddenly. "The simple life. Before the chaos. Before me."
I reached up, tracing the line of his jaw.
"The simple life was a cage, Vincent. I was dying in there."
I looked deep into his eyes.
"You didn't just save me that night. You woke me up."
Vincent smiled, leaning down to capture my lips in a slow, passionate kiss that still sent shivers down my spine, even after two years.
We stood there, the King and Queen of New York, overlooking our empire.
I was no longer the frightened waitress hiding in a bathroom.
May you like
I was the storm.
And as long as I had the Devil by my side, I knew no one would ever break me again.
