Chapter 10 - The Touch of a Queen
Six months later.
The sun shone brightly over the lush green hills of Hawthorne, painting the valley in warm shades of gold and amber.
The Vale Estate had changed completely. The heavy iron gates were open, letting the mountain breeze rustle through the pine trees. The dark, gloomy halls of the mansion had been renovated, filled with bright light, fresh flowers, and large glass windows that looked out over the sparkling valley below.
The Moretti syndicate and Uncle Vance’s corrupt faction were distant memories, completely erased from the state. Dominic held absolute, unchallenged control over his empire—but he no longer ran it from the dark shadows of fear.
Down in the grand conservatory, soft classical music played from a record player.
I stood in front of a giant canvas resting on an easel near the stone fountain, holding a wooden palette and a paintbrush. I wore a simple white linen dress, my hair tied back loosely with a silk ribbon. Through hard work, private tutoring, and Dominic’s unwavering support, I was finally pursuing the dream I had buried years ago: fine arts.
A pair of strong, warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
Dominic pulled my back against his broad chest, burying his face into the crook of my neck, pressing a soft, lingering kiss onto my skin. He was wearing a casual gray sweater and trousers—no guns, no bodyguards, no armor.
"You're distracting the artist," I giggled softly, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
"The artist is far more interesting than the canvas," Dominic murmured, his voice rich, warm, and full of life.
He spun me around in his arms, looking down at my face with grey eyes that no longer carried a single trace of coldness or pain. The wounded, isolated mob boss of Pennsylvania was gone. In his place stood a man who was deeply, undeniably in love.
He reached into his sweater pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box.
My heart skipped a beat. "Dominic..."
He dropped to one knee on the flagstone floor of the conservatory, holding the open box up toward me. Inside rested a breathtaking, flawless platinum ring set with a rare, radiant grey diamond that caught the sunlight like a star.
"Lily Carter," Dominic spoke, his voice steady, deep, and filled with a devotion that made my eyes fill with happy tears. "Six months ago, you walked into a dangerous room and touched a man who thought he was beyond saving. You broke my walls, healed my soul, and gave me a life worth living."
He looked up into my eyes, holding out his hand—unprotected, open, and waiting.
"Nobody was ever allowed to touch me," he whispered, a brilliant, breathtaking smile spreading across his sharp face. "Except you. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and be my wife?"
I didn't hesitate for a single second.
I threw my paintbrush onto the side table, dropped to my knees beside him on the stone floor, and threw my arms around his neck, pulling his lips down to mine in a passionate, joyful kiss.
"Yes!" I sobbed happily against his mouth. "Yes, Dominic! A thousand times yes!"
He slipped the platinum ring onto my finger, locking his hand with mine, pulling me tight against his heart as the warm sun streamed through the glass roof above us.
May you like
Outside the conservatory doors, Marcus stood guard near the gardens, watching us with a genuine, proud smile on his face.
The dangerous king of the city had finally found his queen. And in her gentle touch, he had found his home.
