Chapter 20 - The Reign
Six months later, the scars on my back had faded to pale silver lines, no longer a source of shame, but a testament to my survival.
Julian was living in a squalid apartment on the outskirts of the city, stripped of his name and his power, forced to survive as a nobody. I never thought of him again.
It was a warm summer evening. I was standing on the massive stone balcony of the estate, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. I was wearing a simple, elegant sundress, holding a glass of sparkling cider.
Luca walked out onto the balcony, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind and resting his chin on my shoulder. He placed his large hands gently over my stomach, where a very faint, new curve had begun to show.
“He’s kicking,” Luca smiled, feeling a tiny flutter against his palm.
“She’s kicking,” I corrected, leaning back against his solid chest. “And she is going to be just as stubborn as her father.”
Luca chuckled, a deep, rich sound that I loved more than anything in the world. He turned me around in his arms, his face intensely serious. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
My breath caught. “Luca, you already gave me a ring.”
“I gave you a shackle,” he corrected, his voice thick with emotion. “I put a ring on your finger in a basilica to claim you as a prize of war. I want to do it right this time.”
He opened the box. Inside was a delicate, stunning vintage ring—a brilliant sapphire surrounded by diamonds. It wasn’t a heavy, ostentatious display of wealth like the first one. It was thoughtful. It was beautiful.
“I don't want you because of a peace treaty, Seraphina,” Luca said, dropping to one knee on the stone balcony. The ruthless mafia boss, the most feared man in the city, bowing entirely to me. “I want you because you are the bravest, strongest woman I have ever known. Because you saved me just as much as I saved you. Will you marry me? For real this time?”
Tears blurred my vision. I nodded, unable to speak, holding out my left hand.
He slipped the heavy white-gold band off my finger and replaced it with the sapphire. It fit perfectly.
May you like
Luca stood up, pulling me into a fierce, desperate kiss. There were no cameras flashing. There were no enemies watching. There was no fear.
There was only a man who had looked beneath my armor, seen my scars, and decided to love me fiercely anyway. And together, we ruled the city.
