Chapter 10 - Crown of Blood and Roses
Five years later.
The sun blazed down over the immaculate lawns of the Westchester estate, illuminating a sea of white roses, expensive cars, and high-society elites who had gathered for one of the most anticipated events of the decade.
It wasn't a mafia summit. It wasn't a criminal trial.
It was my high school graduation party, hosted on the grand grounds of the Moretti mansion.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my fourth-floor suite, adjusting the collar of my pristine white dress. Around my neck, resting securely against my skin, was the silver locket Alejandro had given me ten years ago.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," I called out.
The heavy door opened, and Alejandro stepped inside. He was older now, with faint silver streaks threading through his dark hair, adding an even more distinguished, terrifyingly handsome edge to his sharp features. He wore a crisp, tailored black tuxedo, looking every bit the untouchable king of the New York underworld.
He stopped a few feet away, his dark eyes scanning me from head to toe with a look of profound, overwhelming pride.
"You look stunning," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
"Thanks to you," I smiled, stepping forward to adjust his lapel—the exact same gesture I had learned to do years ago.
Alejandro looked down at my hands, then gently covered them with his own large, calloused palms.
"Your mother is downstairs crying tears of joy into the punch bowl," he said with a faint smile. "And the capos are outside arguing over who gets to buy you a graduation car—though I've already had a custom armored sports coupe delivered to the front gates."
"You didn't have to do that," I laughed softly.
"I had to," Alejandro insisted gently. "In this world, people give gifts to buy favors. I give gifts because you are the best thing that ever happened to me, Emma."
He offered me his arm.
"Shall we go show the world what the maid's daughter and the mafia boss built together?"
I slipped my arm through his, feeling the steady, unbreakable strength of the man who had sworn to protect me with his life.
May you like
As we walked down the grand staircase together, stepping out into the blinding sunlight of the courtyard where hundreds of armed guards, syndicate capos, and high-society guests stood applauding, I knew one thing for certain:
The shadows of the past could never touch us again. We had forged an empire out of blood, survival, and fierce, unyielding love—and our reign had only just begun.
