Chapter 18 - The Unbroken Circle
The wedding, when it finally happened in late spring, was nothing like the high-society spectacles Genevieve used to plan for demanding billionaires.
It wasn't held in a ballroom filled with plastic chandeliers or commercial journalists.
Instead, it was an intimate, heavily guarded ceremony held in the private stone courtyard of the Viscanti estate overlooking the Hudson River. Only a handful of trusted individuals attended—Enzo, Mrs. Vance, Captain Harris (who had quietly retired to a consulting role with the federal anti-corruption task force), and a select group of regional leaders who understood that the Viscanti family had entered a new, untouchable era.
Genevieve wore a breathtaking, custom-designed gown of ivory silk and lace that flowed seamlessly over the cobblestones.
As she walked down the stone aisle on the arm of Enzo—who had insisted on acting as her surrogate family—Mateo stood at the altar waiting for her. He wore a classic black tuxedo, his dark hair swept back, his expression softened by an expression of profound, unadulterated awe.
When she reached him, Mateo took her hands in his. They were warm, steady, and entirely secure.
“You look like a vision,” Mateo whispered as the priest began the ceremony.
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“You clean up nicely for a syndicate boss,” Genevieve murmured back, a bright, triumphant smile lighting up her face.
As they exchanged vows, the river breeze rustled through the ivy-covered walls of the estate, carrying away the ghosts of the past. They weren't just surviving anymore. They were ruling.
