“Take that disgusting thing off my table.”

The private cabin sat nestled deep in the Wisconsin North Woods, surrounded by towering pines whose needles carpeted the forest floor in a thick, golden-brown blanket. A thin wisp of smoke curled lazily from the stone chimney, cutting through the crisp, pine-scented evening air. When Luca cut the engine of the black SUV, the sudden silence of the wilderness was absolute—no sirens, no shouting enforcers, no ringing phones. Just the gentle rustle of the wind through the pines and the distant lapping of lake water against the rocky shore.

I stepped out of the vehicle, wrapping my heavy wool coat tightly around myself as I looked up at the rustic wooden structure. "Luca... where are we? Is this safe?"

Luca walked around the hood of the SUV, pulling me into his arms and burying his face in my neck for a brief, grounding moment. "It’s safe," he murmured softly. "My father built this place thirty years ago before the syndicate took over our lives. It’s the only place on earth where I can truly breathe. And I wanted you to see it."

He carried my small canvas bag up the wooden steps while I unlocked the heavy oak front door. Inside, the cabin was warm, smelling of aged cedar, old books, and woodsmoke. A massive stone fireplace dominated the center of the living room, surrounded by comfortable leather couches and shelves lined with worn paperbacks. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the vast, dark expanse of the lake, reflecting the brilliant blanket of stars beginning to emerge across the night sky.

While Luca set to work building a roaring fire in the hearth, I wandered into the small, rustic kitchen. True to form, the cupboards were stocked with simple canned goods, pasta, and a jar of homemade marinara sauce left behind by one of Luca’s trusted caretakers. Smiling to myself, I pulled out a pot, filled it with water from the tap, and set it on the vintage gas stove.

A few minutes later, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and Luca pressed his warm lips against the crook of my neck, sending a delicious shiver straight down my spine.

"Are you playing housekeeper again?" Luca teased softly, his breath warm against my skin.

"I told you," I whispered, leaning back against his solid chest, "taking care of people is in my blood. Besides, even mafia bosses have to eat."

We sat together at the small wooden dining table by the window, eating simple pasta by candlelight with the crackling fire casting a golden glow across the room. There were no syndicate reports, no threats from New York, and no guards standing outside the door. For the first time since I had stepped foot in the Chicago mansion, the heavy, crushing weight of our reality lifted entirely.

After dinner, we wrapped ourselves in a thick wool blanket and sat out on the wooden deck overlooking the dark, glassy lake. The night sky was ablaze with a million glittering stars, completely unpolluted by city lights.

Luca pulled me tightly against his side, his arm securely around my shoulders as we watched the moonlight dance across the water.

"Emma," Luca said quietly, his voice carrying an unusual, raw vulnerability that made my breath catch in my throat.

"I'm listening, Luca," I whispered, turning my head to look up at him.

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, velvet-lined leather box. My heart slammed against my ribs like a trapped bird. He flipped open the lid, revealing a breathtaking diamond engagement ring that caught the starlight, its center stone sparkling like a drop of pure ice.

"When I put that chipped white bowl on my engagement table months ago," Luca said, his voice thick with emotion, "I thought my life was defined by control, power, and enemies. I didn't know what love looked like. You walked into my hell and brought warmth, grace, and an unbreakable soul. Will you stay with me, Emma? Not just as my partner in the syndicate, but as my wife?"

Tears spilled over my eyelashes, hot and fast, but a radiant smile broke across my face. I didn't hesitate for a single second.