Chapter 6 - The Unwritten Rule
Forty-eight hours later, the storm over Rhode Island had completely vanished, leaving behind crisp, bright autumn air that smelled of salt and fallen leaves.
Chloe sat on the shaded veranda of Gabriel’s sprawling estate overlooking Narragansett Bay. The manicured lawns rolled down to the private rocky shoreline, where gulls dipped gracefully over the dark blue water.
It felt a million miles away from the screaming fairgrounds, the damp basement of the old church, and the terrifying gunfire at the airstrip.
A small pair of arms wrapped tightly around her waist from behind.
"Chloe! Look what my dad got me!"
Chloe looked down to see Mia smiling brightly, holding a brand-new, fluffy white stuffed rabbit that looked remarkably like the one she had lost at the fair. The dark shadows under the little girl's green eyes were gone, replaced by the natural glow of a child safe in her own home.
"It's beautiful, sweetheart," Chloe smiled, running a hand through Mia’s curls. "Where is your dad?"
"In his office," Mia said, pointing toward the heavy French doors leading inside. "He said he wanted to talk to you about something important."
Chloe took a deep breath, smoothing down her casual sweater before walking into the sunlit study.
Gabriel stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, holding a crystal glass of bourbon. He had changed out of his black tactical suits into a sharp navy blazer, looking more like a Wall Street billionaire than an underworld kingpin.
When he heard the door open, he turned around and set his glass down on the mahogany desk.
"Mia is finally acting like an eight-year-old again," Gabriel said, a rare, warm smile touching his lips. "She hasn't stopped talking about you since yesterday."
"She’s a survivor," Chloe said softly, leaning against the edge of the desk. "She’s stronger than most adults I know."
"She takes after her mother," Gabriel murmured, looking out toward the bay. A shadow of old grief crossed his face for a split second before he brought his gaze back to Chloe. "Julian Vance’s syndicate has been dismantled. Without Marcus’s inside information, the federal indictments dropped this morning. Vance and his top captains are locked in federal custody with no bail. Rhode Island belongs to us again."
"And what about me, Gabriel?" Chloe asked, her voice dropping to a quiet, serious register. "I know too much now. I saw things civilians aren't supposed to see. Do I need to disappear?"
Gabriel walked slowly across the room, stopping just inches away from her. His tall frame cast a warm shadow over her, his dark eyes filled with an intense, unwavering sincerity.
"Disappear?" Gabriel repeated softly. "Chloe... on the night you saved my daughter, I told you that in my family, we take care of our own. That wasn't a mob slogan. It was a promise."
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, heavy velvet box. He didn't open it immediately. He held it between them like an offering.
"You walked into the fire when everyone else ran away," Gabriel continued, his voice low and rich. "You gave my daughter a mother’s heart when she was terrified and alone. You stood beside me at an airstrip when bullets were flying, and you never flinched."
He opened the box. Inside rested a delicate platinum ring set with a rare, deep-green emerald surrounded by small diamonds—an heirloom piece that looked old, powerful, and deeply personal.
"I don't need a civilian graphic designer working a nine-to-five graphic job in the city anymore," Gabriel said, taking her hand gently in his calloused palm. "I need a partner. A queen who can stand beside me in the light and in the shadows. I need someone who loves my children the way I do."
Chloe stared at the ring, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Six days ago, she had been a nobody eating takeout in a cramped apartment. Now, she was looking into the eyes of the most powerful man in New England, offering her a throne built on loyalty, survival, and a love forged in the dark.
"Gabriel..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Are you asking me to be part of this world? Really?"
"I'm asking you to be my wife, Chloe," Gabriel said, his thumb softly stroking the back of her hand. "And I'm promising you with every breath in my body... nobody will ever touch you or Mia again."
Chloe looked down at the ring, then up into his steady, unyielding eyes. All her doubts dissolved into the bright Rhode Island sunshine.
May you like
"Yes," she whispered.
Gabriel’s face lit up with a profound, breathtaking smile. He slid the emerald ring onto her finger, pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers in a deep, fierce, sealing kiss.
