Chapter 9 - The Rebuilding
Two months later, the Ashford Tower had risen from its scars.
The shattered glass was replaced with impenetrable smart-armor panels, the blood-soaked marble swapped for warm white quartz, and the dark, oppressive shadows of the penthouse were washed away by sunlit rooms and laughter.
The criminal underworld of the East Coast had never been quieter.
With Barrett Hayes eliminated and the other families terrified into absolute submission, Kendrick had consolidated total power. But inside the penthouse, the feared mafia king was a changed man.
Every evening, Kendrick was home by six. He sat at the long kitchen island, loosening his tie, watching me teach Penny how to bake cookies, while Titan lay sprawled beneath the counter waiting for fallen scraps of dough.
“You’re spoiling that dog,” Kendrick remarked one evening, leaning over my shoulder to steal a warm chocolate chip cookie from the baking sheet.
“That dog has better manners than you, Mr. Ashford,” I teased, swatting his hand with a wooden spoon.
Kendrick caught my wrist effortlessly, spun me around against his chest, and pulled me into a slow, lingering kiss that left me breathless.
“Is that so?” he murmured against my lips, his hands resting possessively on my hips. “Need I remind you who pays the bills around here, Miss Vance?”
“I don't care about your bills,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck, looking into the eyes that once terrified me and now brought me absolute peace. “I only care about you.”
Penny giggled from the breakfast nook. “Daddy and Maya are kissing again! Gross!”
Titan let out a cheerful bark, thumping his tail against the cabinets.
Kendrick chuckled, pressing his forehead against mine. “Get dressed up tonight, Maya. The council has called an official assembly to ratify the new peace accords. And I need my queen beside me.”
“Your queen?” I arched an eyebrow. “I thought I was just the nanny.”
Kendrick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
My breath stopped in my throat.
He opened it to reveal a magnificent, emerald-cut diamond ring, surrounded by a halo of tiny sapphires—the colors of royalty, resilience, and unyielding protection.
“You stopped being just the nanny the night Titan brought you to me,” Kendrick said softly, dropping to one knee on the kitchen tile. “You gave Penny her life back. You gave me my soul back. Marry me, Maya. Rule this city with me. Be my wife.”
Tears of pure happiness blurred my vision. I didn't need to think. I didn't need to run anymore.
“Yes,” I cried out, throwing my arms around his neck. “A thousand times, yes!”
May you like
Penny cheered, jumping up and down, while Titan threw his massive front paws onto Kendrick’s shoulders, nearly knocking the mafia king flat onto the kitchen floor.
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