Chapter 9 - The Sovereign’s Peace
One year later.
The autumn sun shone brightly over the rolling green hills outside Chicago, casting a golden light across the stone patio of the Corsetti estate.
The grand backyard was filled with laughter, music, and the delicious smell of a charcoal grill.
At a long wooden picnic table sat Ruth Anne Colby, wearing a stylish floral dress, laughing as she read a postcard sent from Europe by her nephew, who was now running the rebranded Shaw Logistics firm. Across from her sat Dr. Ragavan, enjoying a glass of fine Italian wine while chatting with Marco about pediatric medical endowments.
In the center of the green lawn, fifteen-year-old Juny Shaw was running after a golden retriever puppy, her laughter ringing out clear, bright, and vibrant. She was completely healthy, her cheeks rosy, her chest rising and falling with deep, effortless breaths of clean country air.
On the upper terrace of the manor, Delaney stood leaning against the stone balustrade, holding a warm cup of herbal tea.
She wore a breathtaking cream-colored linen dress, her hair styled in soft waves that caught the golden afternoon light. Her sleeves rested loosely at her elbows, her scarred wrists exposed to the warm sun without a trace of shame or fear.
She looked out over the yard, her heart filled with a profound, unbreakable peace.
Two warm arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her back against a broad, solid chest.
Alessio rested his chin gently on her shoulder, his arms holding her with fierce, protective tenderness. He breathed in the scent of her hair—lavender, honey, and crisp autumn air.
“What are you thinking about, my sweet?” Alessio whispered into her ear.
Delaney leaned back against him, covering his hands with hers, watching Juny throw a tennis ball across the grass for the puppy.
“I was thinking about Saturday mornings,” Delaney smiled softly, turning her head to kiss his jaw. “About how much I used to hate them.”
Alessio smiled—a warm, radiant smile that warmed his dark eyes. “And now?”
“And now,” Delaney murmured, turning in his arms to wrap her hands around his neck, looking into the eyes of the man who loved her beyond measure, “Saturday is my favorite day of the week.”
Alessio leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a deep, everlasting kiss that sealed the promise of a lifetime.
May you like
Down on the lawn, Juny looked up toward the terrace, saw her sister laughing in Alessio’s arms, and let out a loud, happy whistle that echoed across the sunny hills.
The nightmare was over. The debt was settled. The quiet waitress who had saved a mob boss on Route 9 had finally found her home—not in the shadows of the past, but in the warm, sovereign light of an endless tomorrow.
