Chapter 18 - The CleansingThe aftermath of Marcus's death brought a swift and brutal cleansing to the syndicate.
Dante purged anyone with even a hint of disloyalty from his ranks.
The severe nanny, Mrs. Gable, was quietly escorted away by Dante’s men, never to be seen again.
The five families recognized that Dante Russo was more dangerous and unhinged than ever before.
They backed down completely, offering total submission to the Russo empire.
Clara quit her job at the public hospital, an impossible necessity to ensure her safety.
Instead, Dante funded a state-of-the-art pediatric clinic in her name in downtown Boston.
She ran it from behind the heavily guarded walls of the estate, directing funds and hiring top doctors.
Julian flourished under Clara’s permanent, loving presence in the house.
He stopped having nightmares about the men in the park.
He started smiling again, chasing the estate dogs across the massive lawns.
Clara and Dante planned a wedding that was equal parts society gala and heavily armed fortress.
Every detail was meticulously controlled to ensure no rival could ever touch them again.
But the night before the wedding, Clara found Dante standing on the balcony, looking troubled.
“What is wrong?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.
Dante sighed, leaning back into her warmth.
“I am pulling you permanently into a cage, Clara.”
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“Even if the bars are made of gold, it is still a cage.”
Clara stepped around him, looking fiercely into his icy blue eyes.
