Chapter 8 - The Queen’s Seat
Six months later.
The sun shone brightly over the Lake Forest estate, illuminating the rolling green lawns, the marble fountains, and the high wrought-iron gates that protected the private compound.
The master suite on the top floor had been completely remodeled.
The dark velvet curtains and heavy mahogany furniture were gone, replaced by soft cream rugs, high floor-to-ceiling windows, and bright gold accents.
I stood by the window, wearing a tailored navy suit, holding a tablet displaying the morning logistics for the new Costa Medical Foundation—a ten-million-dollar trauma center we had built in the South Side to help low-income families get free healthcare.
A pair of strong, warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
Gabriel pressed his chin against my shoulder, his dark hair brushing against my neck, his hot breath fanning across my skin. He smelled like expensive cologne, cedarwood, and the rich black coffee he now drank every morning.
"You're working too hard, my second," Gabriel murmured into my ear, his lips brushing against my pulse point.
"Someone has to keep your accounts clean, Don Costa," I teased, leaning back against his chest, placing my hands over his. "The South Side clinic opened its doors at eight AM. We've already treated fifty children."
Gabriel smiled—a genuine, warm smile that belonged only to me.
He turned me around in his arms, looking down at my face with an intensity that still made my pulse race after all these months.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, flipping it open with his thumb.
Inside sat a breathtaking platinum ring, crowned with a rare, flawless black diamond that caught the sunlight like a pool of dark liquid fire.
"Elena," Gabriel whispered, his voice thick with an emotion he no longer tried to hide. "Six months ago, you walked into this house with a rag and a bucket. You saved my life. You stood beside me in the dark. You gave me a reason to build something better than blood and violence."
He took my right hand, sliding the heavy black diamond ring onto my finger with slow, absolute possession.
"Will you rule this city with me?" Gabriel asked softly.
I looked down at the ring, then up into the dark, fierce eyes of the man who had given me his trust, his power, and his heart.
"Only if I still get to pick the tea," I whispered with a mischievous smile.
Gabriel threw his head back and laughed—a rich, loud sound that filled the bright, sunny bedroom. He pulled me tight against his heart, leaning down to capture my lips in a deep, possessing kiss that tasted like victory, safety, and a brand new life.
May you like
The maid was gone.
I was the Queen of Chicago now. And nobody would ever try to poison my home again.
