Chapter 38 - A Gathering of Friends
By the time summer arrived, the Rickai estate was no longer the isolated, impenetrable fortress it had once been. While security remained tight and professional, the atmosphere had evolved into something warm and welcoming. For the first time, Dante and Lena hosted a small summer garden party on the sprawling back lawn—inviting Sophia’s preschool teachers, a few close colleagues from Lena’s university program, and trusted members of the estate staff.
The long mahogany table on the patio—once reserved for a lonely syndicate lord dining in echoing silence—was now laden with summer salads, grilled meats, and fresh fruit, surrounded by lively conversation and laughter.
Dante stood near the barbecue grill, flipping skewers with practiced ease, wearing a casual polo shirt instead of his usual dark business suits. Viktor walked up beside him, holding a cold glass of lemonade, watching Sophia chase a golden retriever across the grass with her yellow blanket tucked under her arm.
"You look entirely out of character, Boss," Viktor teased quietly with a faint smirk.
Dante glanced over at Sophia, who had just managed to trip over her own feet and tumble softly into the grass before bursting into giggles, with Lena rushing over to scoop her up. Dante smiled, taking a sip of his drink.
"Character is just a role you play until you find out who you actually are, Viktor," Dante replied smoothly.
"And who are you, Dante?"
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Dante looked out across the sunlit lawn, taking in the bright laughter, the warm breeze, and the woman who had walked into his life and changed its entire trajectory.
"A man who finally stopped running from his own shadow," Dante said simply.
