Chapter 20 - Building the Light
Later that night, after the guests had gone and Lily had fallen asleep with frosting on her sleeve from sneaking cake, Leo found Beatrice on the balcony overlooking the city.
Snow drifted over Chicago, softening the hard edges of rooftops and roads. The river caught the lights and broke them into gold.
Beatrice stood with her arms around herself. Leo stepped beside her.
“You were magnificent tonight,” he said.
She smiled faintly. “I was terrified.”
“I know.”
She looked at him. He did not tease her for it. That was why she could admit it.
“Part of me still expects someone to tell me I don’t belong in rooms like that,” she said.
Leo rested his hands on the stone railing. “Rooms like that are usually full of people who don’t belong anywhere decent.”
Beatrice laughed softly. Then her expression grew serious.
“Do you ever think about leaving it?”
Leo knew what she meant. The shadows. The fear. The empire built from old blood and newer money.
He looked out at the snow.
“Every day since Lily was born,” he said. “More since Elena died. Most since you asked me not to kill Victoria.”
Beatrice’s breath caught.
“I have spent my life making enemies afraid,” Leo said. “You made me ask what kind of home fear builds for a child.”
“And?”
“And I want Lily to grow up in a house where she does not have to whisper.”
Below them, a car passed through the gates. Far away, sirens wailed, then faded.
Leo turned to Beatrice.
“I have begun moving what I can into clean businesses. It will take time. There will be men who don’t like it. There always are.”
“Is it possible?”
“For you and Lily?” He reached for her hand. “Yes.”
Beatrice looked down at their joined fingers, his broad and scarred, hers soft and strong.
“You can’t do it for me,” she said. “Or even for Lily. You have to do it because you believe you are more than what people fear.”
Leo was quiet for a long time. Then he nodded once.
“You make difficult things sound simple.”
“No,” Beatrice said. “I make simple things difficult to avoid.”
He smiled.
She leaned against him, and he wrapped his coat around both of them.
May you like
Inside the mansion, Lily’s laughter suddenly echoed from upstairs. She had woken and discovered Mateo standing guard with purple nail polish still on one thumb.
Beatrice and Leo turned toward the sound together.
