Chapter 9 - Cleaning the Empire
Three weeks later.
The autumn leaves were burning bright red and gold across the grounds of the Rossi estate.
The atmosphere in the house had completely transformed. The heavy, suffocating silence that had hung over the limestone mansion for two years was gone.
In its place was music.
Light jazz played from the speakers in the living room. The heavy security guards who used to stand inside the hallways had been moved to the outer perimeter gates. The house felt less like a fortress and more like a home.
I stood in the library, filling a box with old legal files.
Victor stood by the window, wearing a crisp charcoal suit, watching a contractor install a new wooden playground set on the back lawn. He still walked with a slight limp from his surgery, but his strength had largely returned.
The door opened, and Marco walked in, carrying a thick leather briefcase.
“It’s done, Boss,” Marco said, placing the briefcase on the desk. “The port terminal contracts have been legally sold to the city infrastructure board. The proceeds have been moved into the clean educational trust for Finn.”
Victor turned around. “And the Vane territories?”
“Surrendered,” Marco reported. “With Luciano dead and his lieutenants in federal custody, their syndicate has dissolved. The remaining Chicago families have signed the peace accord. You’re completely out of the shipping line, Victor. You’re legitimate.”
Victor took a deep breath, looking out the window toward the new playground where Finn was currently running around with our new golden retriever puppy.
“Thank you, Marco,” Victor said quietly. “You’re free to take the pension package we discussed.”
Marco smiled—a rare, genuine expression on his hardened face. “I think I’ll stick around, Boss. Someone needs to head the legitimate corporate security detail for Vance Global Holdings.”
Victor chuckled, shaking Marco’s hand before the chief of security bowed his head to me and left the room.
Victor walked over to where I was standing by the desk. He reached out and gently took the cardboard box out of my hands, setting it on the floor.
“You’re working too hard,” he murmured, pulling me by the waist until my back was pressed against his chest. His chin rested on my shoulder, his warm breath tickling my neck.
“Someone has to organize your life,” I teased, leaning back into his warmth. “Now that you’re just an honest corporate investor, you’re going to have a lot more free time.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he asked, kissing the soft spot behind my ear.
“It means you’re going to get annoying.”
Victor laughed—a rich, deep sound that filled the library.
He turned me around in his arms so I was facing him. His hand went to his inner jacket pocket, and he pulled out a small velvet box.
My heart stopped.
“Victor...”
“I know it’s only been a few weeks since everything happened,” Victor said, his grey eyes shining with warmth and absolute devotion. “And I know I’m a man with a dark past and a lot of scars.”
He opened the box.
Inside sat a breathtaking vintage ring—a radiant-cut emerald surrounded by a halo of delicate diamonds.
“This belonged to my grandmother,” Victor whispered. “She gave it to my grandfather when he decided to leave the old country and start a new life. It represents fresh starts.”
He looked into my eyes, his hands trembling slightly.
“I don't want you to be Finn’s caregiver anymore, Harper. I want you to be my wife. I want you to be his mother. I want to spend every morning of the rest of my life waking up beside the woman who saved us both.”
Tears blurred my vision. I looked from the glittering ring up to the face of the man I had grown to love more than life itself.
May you like
“Yes,” I choked out, throwing my arms around his neck. “Yes, Victor! Yes!”
He lifted me off my feet, spinning me around in the library as his lips found mine in a fierce, passionate kiss that wiped away every lingering shadow of the past.
