Chapter 8 - A Sanctuary Built of Steel and Silk
Two weeks later.
The Moretti syndicate in East Boston was completely dismantled, its territory absorbed into Gabriel’s organization without further bloodshed. Derek Lawson was sentenced to twenty-five years in maximum security federal prison without possibility of parole.
The city of Boston was quiet, peaceful, and entirely under the undisputed control of Gabriel Ashford.
Inside the Ashford residence on Beacon Hill, the morning sun poured through the high arched windows of the fourth-floor master suite.
Harper was sitting on the edge of the massive plush bed, wearing a soft white cashmere robe, looking at a large painting resting on an easel near the window. It was a painting she had spent the last week working on—a breathtaking landscape of the Boston harbor at sunrise, painted with rich, vibrant oils that Gabriel had bought for her.
She had finally returned to her art—the passion Derek had forced her to abandon five years ago.
The bedroom door opened softly, and Gabriel stepped inside.
He was dressed in a dark blue tailored suit, but his tie was missing, his collar open, looking relaxed and deeply content. He walked over to her, standing behind her, resting his large hands gently on her shoulders.
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her neck. "It’s beautiful, Harper."
Harper leaned back against his chest, smiling softly. "It’s not finished yet. I need to add more gold to the skyline."
"Everything you touch becomes beautiful," Gabriel whispered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box.
Harper’s breath hitched.
Gabriel walked around the bed, dropping to one knee before her, holding the open velvet box in his hands. Inside rested a magnificent, flawless five-carat oval diamond ring, framed by small sapphire stones that matched the color of her eyes.
"Gabriel..." Harper whispered, her hands covering her mouth.
"Harper Queen," Gabriel spoke, his dark eyes filled with a raw, intense love that made her tears spill over. "Three weeks ago, you walked into my house bleeding, broken, and terrified of the world. But in three weeks, you showed me what true courage looks like. You healed my heart, you brought warmth into this cold house, and you made me want to be a better man."
He reached out, taking her soft hand in his.
"I don't want you to be my assistant, Harper," Gabriel said softly. "I want you to be my wife. I want to build a life with you, protect you, and love you for the rest of my days. Will you marry me?"
Harper didn't hesitate for a single second. She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him up into a passionate, deep kiss that sent both of them tumbling back onto the plush bed.
May you like
"Yes!" Harper cried out through her tears, kissing his cheeks, his lips, his jaw. "Yes, Gabriel! A thousand times yes!"
Gabriel laughed—a loud, joyful sound that echoed through the vast master suite—as he slipped the sparkling diamond ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
