Chapter 8 - The Queen's Return
Two days later, a private helicopter bearing the Vale Enterprises insignia touched down softly on the roof helipad of a high-rise residential building in Queens.
The rotors whirred to a gentle stop, kicking up a gust of autumn wind that made my emerald coat billow around my knees.
Roman climbed out first, offering a hand to help me down onto the concrete pad. Waiting right by the penthouse rooftop access door stood my younger sister, Chloe, holding seven-month-old Lila in her arms, looking like she had just witnessed an alien abduction.
"Mara?!" Chloe shrieked, running forward as soon as she saw me, nearly dropping her phone in the process. "Are you out of your mind?! You were supposed to be at a job interview in DC, and instead I woke up to see your face plastered across CNN next to a billionaire shipping tycoon who just bought half of Congress!"
I laughed, rushing forward and scooping Lila out of my sister's arms.
My baby girl squealed with delight, grabbing my hair with sticky little fingers. I buried my face in her neck, breathing in the sweet, powdery scent of baby shampoo, tears of sheer joy stinging my eyes. I had missed her so much it felt like an ache in my bones.
"I can explain," I laughed, kissing Lila's chubby cheeks over and over. "I promise I can explain everything."
Chloe stopped dead in her tracks as Roman walked up behind me, stepping onto the rooftop with effortless, imposing grace. He wasn't wearing his boardroom suit today; he wore a simple black cashmere sweater and dark jeans, looking every bit the lethal, handsome enigma the newspapers loved to write about.
"Hello, Chloe," Roman said smoothly, extending a hand. "I'm Roman Vale."
Chloe stared at his outstretched hand as if it were a live grenade. She slowly shook it, her eyes darting between Roman and me. "You... you're the guy who bought the shipping company."
"I am," Roman agreed.
"And you're the guy my sister apparently saved on a train."
"That is also correct," Roman said, a faint, amused smile touching his lips.
Just then, a sleek black Mercedes van pulled up to the roof elevator service bay, and Marcus stepped out, carefully carrying three portable bassinets containing Jude, Leo, and Silas, accompanied by their pediatric nurse.
Chloe's jaw hit the concrete floor. "Is that a mobile nursery?"
"Meet your new playmates, Lila," I whispered to my daughter, bouncing her on my hip as I walked over to peer into the bassinets.
The three little boys were sleeping soundly, their tiny chests rising and falling in perfect unison. Jude, the little fighter who had caught it all on the train, let out a soft, milky sigh in his sleep.
Roman stepped up beside me, resting his hand gently on the small of my back. The warmth of his palm radiated through my coat, sending a familiar, electric thrill through my entire body.
"How are they doing, nurse?" Roman asked softly.
"Dr. Leland cleared them completely, Mr. Vale," the nurse replied with a professional smile. "They gained four ounces each over the last forty-eight hours. Their vitals are pristine."
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Roman let out a long, slow breath, closing his eyes for a second as if shedding the final remnants of a nightmare that had haunted him for months. Then he looked down at me, his dark eyes shining with something so deep, so profound, it made my knees weak.
"You brought them back to life, Mara," Roman whispered, his voice meant only for me. "And you brought me back with them."
