Chapter 9 - The Family Suite
Three months later.
The Valenti syndicate was completely erased from the Northeast. Marco Valenti was serving a life sentence in a high-security federal facility, and Julian Vance had been permanently exiled from the city, stripped of every cent and name he held.
The Vance empire was no longer known just for its power, but for its absolute, unbreakable stability.
It was a crisp, clear Christmas Eve.
The grand hall of the Vance mansion was decorated with a thirty-foot pine tree covered in warm gold lights, silver ribbon, and glass ornaments. A crackling fire burned in the great fireplace, casting a warm, amber glow across the thick velvet rugs.
In the center of the living room, sitting on a massive plush sofa, was Lucian.
He wore a soft charcoal sweater, his sleeves rolled up, looking younger, healthier, and happier than he had in years.
On his right knee sat baby Sophia, now fourteen months old, happily chewing on a gingerbread cookie, her bright blue eyes laughing as she kicked her feet.
On his left, curled comfortably against his side under a fleece blanket, was Maya. She was four now, her dark curls styled in pretty braids, holding her favorite earless rabbit, Barnaby.
Maria sat across from them in an armchair, drinking hot cocoa, watching her family with a serene, beautiful smile. She was no longer the frightened maid hiding in the staff quarters; she was the manager of the Vance Family Estate and the beating heart of the home.
Gideon stepped into the living room, wearing a Santa hat over his tactical scar, holding a large silver tray filled with wrapped presents.
"Ho, ho, ho," Gideon said dryly, though his eyes were warm with humor. "Special delivery for the bosses of the house."
Maya giggled, scrambling off the sofa to help Gideon set the presents under the tree. "Look, Sophia! Santa came!"
Sophia let out a happy babble, clapping her cookie-covered hands.
Lucian watched them, his arm resting over the back of the sofa. He looked down at the soft cashmere rabbit resting on the cushion beside him—the earless toy that had started it all on a dark night four months ago.
He picked it up, smiling softly.
Maria walked over, setting a cup of warm tea on the side table beside him. "What are you thinking about, Lucian?"
Lucian looked up at Maria, then at Maya, who was currently wearing a large bow on her head like a hat, making baby Sophia laugh until she hiccuped.
"I'm thinking about the night I checked that camera feed," Lucian said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought I was installing a camera to solve a mystery."
May you like
He reached out, taking Maria’s hand in a warm, respectful grip, then looked at his two daughters playing by the bright Christmas tree.
"I didn't know," Lucian whispered, a radiant, peaceful smile illuminating his face, "that I was watching the moment my life was saved."
