Chapter 10 - Queen of the Syndicate
Six months later, the roadside diner off Highway 9 was nothing more than a distant, hazy memory.
The sun was setting over the private waterfront gardens of the Volkov estate, casting long amber shadows across the manicured lawn.
Sophia was running across the grass, chasing a golden retriever puppy while laughing uncontrollably.
Sitting on a wrought-iron patio chair beneath a canopy of blooming wisteria, Emma wore a soft ivory summer dress. On her left hand, the emerald-cut diamond ring caught the evening light, no longer feeling heavy or alien, but like a part of who she had become.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Strong, familiar hands settled gently on her shoulders, massaging the tension from her neck.
“The regional capos are waiting in the study for our monthly review,” Dominic murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Are you ready, Mrs. Volkov?”
Emma smiled, leaning back against his chest. She turned her head, looking up into his stormy grey-blue eyes—eyes that no longer held only cold authority, but a fierce, unconditional devotion.
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“Let them wait,” Emma said, reaching up to pull him down for a slow, lingering kiss. “The queen takes her time.”
Dominic laughed—a rich, genuine sound that belonged only to her—and pulled her closer, sealing their future in the quiet warmth of the empire they had built together.
