Chapter 10 - The New Beginning
Six incredibly quiet, peaceful months had passed since the violent, bloody fall of the Volkov syndicate.
The brutal, freezing cold winter had finally given way to a beautiful, bright, and incredibly warm Baltimore spring.
I was absolutely no longer scrubbing bloody floors in a sterile hospital on the exhausting graveyard shift.
I was standing comfortably on the sunlit stone terrace of a massive, sprawling estate entirely surrounded by endless, lush green gardens.
Alessandro had quietly purchased the highly secure compound to ensure we would never, ever be threatened again.
I watched with a genuine, bright smile as Logan ran happily across the manicured lawn, frantically chasing a clumsy golden retriever puppy.
Sitting on a weathered wooden bench nearby was Alessandro, looking completely relaxed and incredibly handsome in a casual linen shirt.
His injured shoulder had fully healed, though the dark, jagged scar would remain with him forever as a reminder.
He was patiently and lovingly teaching Logan how to strategically move the carved pieces on a beautiful wooden chessboard.
“You have to always protect the King, buddy,” Alessandro explained softly, affectionately ruffling my son's dark hair.
“But the Queen is by far the most powerful, dangerous piece on the entire board.”
I walked slowly down the warm stone steps, carrying a silver tray of fresh, sweet iced tea.
Alessandro looked up, his fierce, notoriously dark eyes softening instantly the very moment they landed on me.
He stood up gracefully and walked over to me, gently taking the heavy tray from my hands.
He placed it on the patio table and immediately wrapped his strong, incredibly warm arms around my waist, pulling me close.
“You look absolutely beautiful today, Catherine,” he whispered, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead.
I leaned deeply into his solid, muscular chest, finally feeling entirely, wonderfully safe for the first time in my adult life.
Our unique family was incredibly unconventional, born from horrific violence and absolute, devastating betrayal.
But as I watched my happy, incredibly healthy son laughing loudly in the bright sunlight, I knew I had made the right choice.
May you like
The dangerous, dead man in the hospital closet had miraculously woken up to give me a completely new, beautiful life.
And I fully intended to deeply cherish every single second of it.
