Chapter 12 - The Queen's Reign
The aftermath of the gala was a masterclass in mafia diplomacy. With Leo removed, the rival bosses quickly fell back in line, swearing their allegiance to Gabriel. The power structure was solidified in less than an hour.
When the night was finally over, Gabriel and Clara returned to the secure penthouse.
Clara kicked off her high heels the moment the door closed, letting out a long, exhausted breath. The adrenaline crash was brutal. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the glittering Manhattan skyline.
She had survived. She had watched a man be condemned to death. She had crossed a line she could never uncross.
Gabriel walked up behind her. He didn't say a word. He simply wrapped his massive arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
"You were magnificent tonight," Gabriel murmured, kissing her soft skin. "They were terrified of you."
"They were terrified of you, Gabriel," Clara corrected softly, leaning back into his solid warmth. "I just stood there in a pretty dress."
"You stood by my side," Gabriel said, turning her around to face him. His eyes were intensely serious. "You didn't flinch. You didn't run. Clara, I told you that you were a liability in a fight, but I was wrong. You are my greatest strength."
Clara looked up into his eyes, her heart swelling with an emotion she had tried so hard to fight.
"I can't go back to the hospital, can I?" she whispered.
"No," Gabriel admitted, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You belong to my world now. But I promise you, Clara. You will never want for anything. You will never be disrespected. You will have a hospital of your own to run, if you want it. Legitimate. Clean."
He dropped to one knee, right there in the living room, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. It wasn't a necklace this time. It was a massive, flawless diamond ring.
"Marry me, Clara," Gabriel commanded softly, the ruthless mafia boss begging for the only thing he truly wanted. "Rule this city with me."
Clara looked at the man who worshipped the very ground she walked on. She thought of the cold, lonely ER, the men who mocked her, the grueling shifts. And then she looked at Gabriel—her protector, her partner, her king.
May you like
"Yes," Clara breathed, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Gabriel stood, slipping the ring onto her finger before capturing her lips in a fierce, consuming kiss. The war was over. The king had returned. And the woman they had all laughed at was now the untouchable Queen of New York.
