At 9:17 P.M., I was the only waitress brave enough to approach table four, where Boston’s most feared mafia boss was slowly dying in front of everyone.

The grand ballroom of the Boston Harbor Hotel was a cathedral of decadent corruption.

Crystal chandeliers hung from gilded ceilings, casting glittering light across hundreds of men in black tie and women dripping in diamonds. State senators, shipping moguls, high-ranking police officials, and syndicate capos sipped vintage champagne, whispering deals that dictated the fate of New England's underworld.

When the massive double doors opened and the head steward announced, *"Mr. Dominic Romano and guest,"* the entire ballroom fell dead silent.

Every eye turned.

Dominic stood tall, radiating absolute authority, looking like a king who had returned from the underworld to reclaim his throne. And on his arm, standing tall in emerald silk with the legendary Romano heirloom at her throat, was the waitress who had defied death to keep him alive.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd like wildfire.

*"Is that her?"*

*"The waitress from the restaurant?"*

*"Look at the necklace... Vincenzo’s wife’s stone!"*

Dominic led me down the sweeping marble staircase with measured, unhurried grace. He kept his hand firmly over mine, offering an unspoken anchor of support.

At the bottom of the stairs, Lorenzo Romano stood with a circle of loyal lieutenants. His face was a mask of furious, barely concealed shock. The glass of scotch in his hand trembled slightly before he caught himself.

"Dominic," Lorenzo greeted, his voice tight. "We were beginning to think your convalescence had taken a turn for the worse."

"My health is pristine, Lorenzo," Dominic replied, his voice cutting through the hushed room like a razor. "Strong enough to attend the gathering, and strong enough to audit the northern port accounts tomorrow morning."

Lorenzo’s smile slipped, his eyes darting to the emerald pendant resting against my chest. "I see you brought Miss Henderson. A rather... unconventional choice for an evening of this caliber."

I stepped forward slightly, meeting Lorenzo's cold gaze without blinking. "In my experience, Mr. Romano, loyalty and honesty are far rarer in this room than pedigree."

A low chuckle broke out among several older capos standing nearby. Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed into slits of pure venom.

"Enjoy the music while it lasts, Miss Henderson," Lorenzo hissed softly under the din of the orchestra. "Tides turn very fast in Boston Harbor."

"Only when the rats don't drown first," I countered smoothly.

Dominic’s fingers tightened affectionately on my waist. "Come, Chloe. Let me introduce you to the few men in this room who still understand the value of their word."