Chapter 10 - A New Legacy
I looked out across the sun-drenched lawn where Noah was currently trying—and failing—to dribble a soccer ball past one of the towering guards, erupting into a fit of bright, infectious laughter that echoed across the gardens.
The dark shadows of the mafia underworld would always linger at the edges of our lives; Ethan’s empire wasn’t going to dissolve overnight. But looking into Ethan’s steady, unwavering eyes, I realized something profound: some fortresses aren’t built out of stone, fear, or guns. They are built out of the people brave enough to stand beside you when the glass shatters.
“Only on one condition,” I said, a playful smile touching my lips as I set my coffee cup down.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Name it.”
“You let me win at chess for once,” I teased. “A mafia boss shouldn't be a sore loser.”
Ethan laughed—a rich, genuine sound that I had never heard from him before. He reached across the table, taking my hand in his, his grip warm and secure.
“Deal.”
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In the distance, Noah called out, “Clara! Dad! Come on, kick the ball!”
We stood up together, walking out into the golden afternoon sunlight, leaving the ghosts of the past locked away behind us forever.
