Chapter 9 - Earning the Crown Back
Four months later.
The morning sun broke through the Pacific Northwest fog, casting a brilliant golden light over the waters of Puget Sound.
A sleek, three-story modern house sat nestled on the coastal cliffs of Seattle, surrounded by towering pine trees and private gardens. There were no razor-wire fences here, no armed guards in dark suits standing at the perimeter—only the sound of ocean waves crashing against the rocks below and the sweet, melodic laughter of twin babies playing on the deck.
I sat on a wide outdoor sofa, wrapped in a comfortable wool sweater, sipping a warm cup of coffee.
Out on the lawn, Dominic was sitting on his knees in the grass, wearing a simple grey hoodie and jeans. He was playing peek-a-boo with one-year-old Leo, who was toddling on shaky legs across the grass, squealing with pure delight every time Dominic pretended to fall backward.
Nearby, Maya was sitting in a wooden playpen, happily chewing on a rubber ring while watching her father and brother.
The man who had once ruled the darkest corners of New York had completely transformed. The cold, lethal killer was gone, replaced by a devoted father whose world revolved entirely around the laughter of his children and the quiet happiness of his wife.
Dominic scooped Leo up into his broad arms, tossing him gently into the air before holding him tight against his chest, walking over to the sofa to sit down beside me.
“He almost walked five full steps without falling,” Dominic boasted proudly, his dark eyes crinkling with a genuine, beautiful warmth as he kissed Leo’s chubby cheek. “Our son is going to be an athlete.”
I smiled, setting my coffee cup down, resting my head against Dominic’s broad shoulder. “He gets his stubbornness from you.”
Dominic leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the crown of my head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet-lined mahogany box, placing it gently on my lap.
I looked down at the box, my heart taking a sudden, fluttering skip. “Dominic... what is this?”
“Open it, my love,” he whispered into my ear, his voice rich with deep, trembling emotion.
I opened the box.
Inside sat a breathtaking platinum ring, set with a massive oval-cut diamond flanked by two smaller sapphires—representing our twins. It was simple, elegant, and entirely different from the heavy, traditional mafia wedding ring he had given me four years ago.
“Nine months ago,” Dominic said softly, sliding off the sofa to kneel on the wooden deck in front of me, taking my shaking hand into his broad, warm palm, “I let evil men drive a wedge between us. I let fear make me cruel. I made you face the hardest moments of your life alone.”
He looked up into my eyes, his dark gaze filled with an absolute, humble devotion that made tears swell in my eyes.
“You gave me my life back, Elena,” Dominic choked out, his voice cracking. “You saved me from becoming a monster. I don't deserve you, and I don't deserve these beautiful children... but if you will let me, I want to spend every single day of the rest of my life earning the right to be your husband.”
He lifted the diamond ring from the box, holding it between his trembling fingers.
“Elena... will you remarry me?”
I looked at the ring, then down at the man who had burned his entire empire to the ground just to make sure our children could grow up in the light.
May you like
Tears spilled over my cheeks as I let out a soft, joyful laugh, throwing my arms around his neck, pulling him up into a deep, passionate kiss that swept away every last ghost of our dark past.
“Yes,” I whispered against his lips, holding him tight as Leo giggled between us. “Yes, Dominic... a thousand times yes.”
