Chapter 10 - THE UNEXPECTED ENDINGSix months later, the cherry blossoms outside the Highlandtown apartment were in full bloom.
Caleb no longer had to guard a dented tin box under his bed; he had a room of his own in the Towson estate, complete with a custom gaming setup and a yard big enough to play soccer with Roman’s guards.
On a crisp Saturday morning, Roman stood on the sunlit back patio of the estate, wearing a tailored charcoal suit without a tie. He held a small velvet box in his hand, his thumb nervously rubbing the satin exterior—a gesture that proved even the most feared man in Maryland could feel the terror of uncertainty.
Nora walked out onto the patio, holding two cups of black coffee. She stopped, her eyes widening as she saw Roman down on one knee against the stone pavers.
"Roman..." she breathed, her voice trembling. "What are you doing?"
"When I first met you, you told me I was a man who needed a reminder of what warmth felt like," Roman said, his dark eyes locked onto hers with absolute, unwavering devotion. "I spent my whole life building walls to keep the world out. But I don't want a fortress anymore. I want a home."
He opened the velvet box, revealing a stunning diamond ring that sparkled brilliantly in the morning sun—far more magnificent than the one Evelyn had ever worn, and completely untainted by greed or betrayal.
"Marry me, Nora," Roman whispered, the rough edges of his syndicate past completely melted away by love. "Let me spend the rest of my life making sure you and Caleb never have to worry about the stars, the cold, or anything else ever again."
Nora let the coffee cups slip from her fingers, shattering harmlessly against the stone as she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him up into a fierce, passionate kiss.
May you like
"Yes," she whispered against his lips. "A million times, yes."
And as the sun rose high over Baltimore Harbor, the most feared mafia boss in the city finally found his eternal peace in the arms of the woman who had dared to tuck him in.
