Chapter 8 - The Queen’s Crown
Three weeks later.
The storm had passed, leaving Grayhaven bathed in a brilliant, crisp golden autumn sunlight.
The Moretti Syndicate had collapsed entirely following Don Moretti's arrest by federal authorities for treason against the Council, while Bianca Moretti had been banished to a small family estate in Europe, stripped of her titles and fortune.
The Torino Syndicate now held undisputed control over the entire state, stronger and wealthier than ever before.
Inside the grand master bedroom of The Obsidian Ridge, Maya stood before a floor-to-ceiling mirror. She wore an exquisite, custom-tailored emerald green velvet gown that hugged her curves, her hair styled in soft, dark waves. Around her neck hung the priceless Torino emerald pendant—a gift reserved only for the matriarch of the family.
The bedroom door opened, and Vincent walked in.
He wore a dark charcoal suit, looking impossibly handsome, his dark eyes lighting up the second he saw her standing in the sunlight.
He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his broad chest, resting his chin on her shoulder as they looked at their reflection in the glass.
"You look breathtaking," Vincent whispered, kissing the side of her neck softly.
Maya smiled, resting her hands over his on her waist. "Is everything ready down in the hall?"
"The entire Council is waiting," Vincent said. "To swear their loyalty to the new boss... and his wife."
Maya turned around in his arms, looking up into his dark, fierce eyes—the eyes that had once terrified her, but now represented her total safety, her strength, and her home.
"Vincent?" she asked softly.
"Yes, my love?"
"Thank you," she whispered, reaching up to gently trace his jawline. "For looking at a broken girl in the rain... and deciding she was worth fighting for."
Vincent’s expression softened into an expression of pure, unadulterated devotion. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a slow, sweet, lingering kiss.
May you like
"You were never broken, Maya," Vincent murmured against her lips. "You were just waiting for your crown."
Hand in hand, the former runaway and the mafia boss stepped out of the suite, walking together down the long, golden hallway toward the ballroom below—ready to rule their empire side by side, forever.
