Chapter 15 - The New Blueprint
The private rooftop terrace of the Moretti Tower offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire Chicago skyline as dusk painted the horizon in brilliant shades of violet and gold.
Below us, the endless river of headlights flowed along the concrete arteries of the city, a chaotic metropolis humming with ambition, danger, and endless opportunity.
Dante stood near the glass railing, holding a glass of wine, his heavy black overcoat draped loosely over his shoulders against the evening chill.
I walked out onto the terrace, the cool autumn breeze catching my hair, and stepped up beside him to look out over the glittering expanse.
"You know," I said softly, resting my hands against the polished stone ledge, "for a man who controls half of Illinois, your taste in restaurants is remarkably predictable."
Dante turned his head, looking down at me with a warm, genuine smile that the rest of Chicago never got to see.
"Predictable keeps us alive, Harper," Dante replied, stepping closer so his shoulder brushed against mine. "Though I’m willing to rewrite our operational guidelines for tonight."
"Oh? And what do those new guidelines entail?" I asked, looking up into his dark, steady eyes.
"No ledgers," Dante said softly. "No midnight phone calls, no emergency contacts, and no corporate boardrooms."
I let out a quiet, contented sigh, leaning gently against his side as the city lights flickered to life across the magnificent Chicago skyline.
May you like
"That," I whispered, resting my head against his shoulder, "sounds like an administrative policy I can finally get behind."
Dante wrapped his arm securely around my waist, pulling me close against him as the night settled over the city, knowing that whatever came next, we would face it together—side by side, exactly where we belonged.
