Chapter 17
Later that night, after the guests had departed and the estate settled into a tranquil, starlit quiet, Emma and I stood together on the wide balcony overlooking the North Side gardens.
A cool breeze carried the scent of blooming lilacs from the courtyard below. I leaned against the stone railing, my cane resting safely against the wall, my legs strong beneath me.
Emma stepped close, resting her head against my shoulder as we watched the distant city skyline twinkle against the dark canvas of the night sky.
“Remember when you told me to get out of your study on my first night here?” she teased softly, a playful smile playing on her lips.
“I remember thinking you were the most irritating, insubordinate civilian I had ever encountered,” I replied, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer.
“And now?”
“Now,” I murmured, pressing a gentle kiss into her dark hair, “I realize you were the best thing that ever happened to me.”
May you like
She turned in my arms, looking up into my eyes with a deep, unwavering affection that completely obliterated every ghost of my past. “You know, Danny, for a terrifying mafia boss, you’re actually quite soft.”
“Don't let the city council hear you say that,” I laughed, catching her lips in a deep, lingering kiss that sealed away the last remnants of the darkness.
