Chapter 9 - The Ashes of the PastTwo weeks later, the sun beat down warm and clear over the sprawling, private cemetery tucked into the hills outside Philadelphia.
The air smelled of damp grass and blooming spring lilacs.
Anna stood before a simple, polished black granite headstone bearing her father’s name, holding a single white rose in her gloved hand. Behind her, parked quietly on the paved pathway, Cedric sat in his wheelchair, dressed in a sharp charcoal suit, keeping a respectful, silent distance.
She placed the rose gently against the cold stone.
"He wasn't a criminal, was he?" Anna asked quietly, not turning around, knowing Cedric could hear every word.
The soft hum of electric wheels approached, stopping right beside her. Cedric looked down at the inscription on the stone.
"No," Cedric said softly. "Your father was an honest man trapped in a dishonest world. When my family tried to use his architecture firm to shield our assets, he tried to pull out. Vance threatened your life to keep him compliant. When your father came to me for help, it was already too late to save him from Vance's crosshairs. But we made sure his legacy—and yours—was protected."
Anna turned her head, looking at the man beside her. The harsh, terrifying monster she had met in the study three weeks ago had softened into something far more dangerous: a partner who had bled for her, fought for her, and anchored her through the worst storm of her life.
"You never told me how you lost your legs," Anna said gently.
Cedric’s eyes darkened for a brief second, the shadow of old pain crossing his features.
"Balkans, 2018," he said, his voice flat and detached. "A landmine planted by the same men who tried to tear my family apart. They thought it would kill me. When it didn't, they thought it would render me powerless."
He looked up at her, a fierce, unyielding pride burning in his dark eyes. "They were wrong."
"Yes," Anna agreed, a small, genuine smile touching her lips as she reached down and took his large, calloused hand in hers. "They really were."
"Come on," Cedric said, his tone shifting back to that familiar, commanding warmth. "Let's go home."
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"Home?" Anna raised an eyebrow playfully. "You mean the fortress that just got blown up?"
"The house is already rebuilt," Cedric replied, the corner of his mouth curving upward into a full, rare smile. "And this time, I added an east wing library just for your books."
