Chapter 10 - A New Dawn for the Russos
Six months later, the cherry blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, painting the Manhattan skyline in shades of soft pink and gold.
The iron gates of the Russo estate were still heavy, and the men with guns still stood post at the perimeter. The underworld didn't stop just because a mafia boss found peace.
But inside the house?
Inside, the silence was completely gone.
In the sunroom, three little girls chased a golden retriever puppy across the Persian rug, their bright, ringing laughter echoing off the glass walls.
“Clara! Look! Max stole my shoe!” Maya yelled, running across the room with a bright, beaming smile.
I laughed, sitting on the velvet settee with a cup of coffee in hand, watching them play.
A pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and a warm chin rested comfortably on my shoulder.
“You’re spoiling them,” Dominic murmured against my ear, a rare, genuine smile curving the corners of his lips.
“They deserve to be spoiled,” I replied, leaning back against his chest and turning my head to kiss his cheek. “They haven't had a proper childhood in two years.”
“Neither have I,” Dominic whispered softly, his arms tightening around me as he watched his daughters play in the sunlight.
From across the room, four-year-old Mia stopped running, looked at us, and trotted over with a heavy picture book in her hands. She climbed up onto the settee, wedged herself right between Dominic and me, and looked up with those big, beautiful brown eyes.
“Read to us, Mama,” Mia said clearly, holding out the book.
I froze for a microsecond, my breath catching in my throat.
Then, a slow, radiant smile spread across my face. I looked over at Dominic. The formidable, feared king of the New York underworld had tears shining openly in his dark eyes, looking at me like I had just handed him the entire world.
May you like
“Of course, sweet heart,” I whispered, opening the book as Dominic’s arms locked securely around both of us.
The dark days were behind us. The silence was dead. And in its place, our song finally filled the house.
