Chapter 19 - The Return
The flight back to New York was entirely different from the agonizingly tense journey to Italy.
Hannah slept for fourteen straight hours, completely exhausted by the physical and emotional trauma of the past week.
Her hands were heavily bandaged, treated with soothing burn cream by the private medical staff on the jet.
Dominic sat beside her the entire time, his dark eyes watching her chest rise and fall in a peaceful rhythm.
The ashes of the Moretti syndicate and Arthur’s treachery had been entirely scattered into the ocean.
There were no more hidden enemies, no more biological bounties, and no more ghosts hiding in the shadows.
When the jet finally touched down on the private runway in New York, a massive fleet of black SUVs was waiting.
Dominic held Hannah’s hand as they stepped out into the crisp, refreshing autumn air of the city.
The drive back to the Hamptons estate felt incredibly surreal, like waking up from a decade-long nightmare.
As the massive iron gates swung open, Hannah saw the front lawn decorated with bright, colorful chalk drawings.
The front doors of the stone fortress burst open, and three identical little girls ran outside as fast as they could.
Hannah dropped to her knees on the driveway, completely ignoring the lingering pain in her heavily bandaged hands.
Lily, Grace, and Emma crashed into her arms, laughing and crying simultaneously as they buried their faces in her neck.
Dominic knelt beside them, wrapping his massive arms around the entire group and burying his face in Hannah’s hair.
For the first time in his entirely violent life, the ruthless mafia boss looked completely at peace.
Later that evening, Hannah stood on the balcony overlooking the dark, quiet ocean, holding a warm mug of tea.
The children were safely asleep in their beds, protected by a security detail that was completely loyal to Dominic.
Hannah realized that she had entirely stopped looking over her shoulder, the constant, suffocating fear finally gone.
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She was the matriarch of the most powerful family in the city, but their power was no longer built on blood.
It was entirely built on love, resilience, and an absolutely unshakeable devotion to each other.
