Chapter 10 - The New Empire
“Bruno!” Emma cried out, her tiny voice piercing the heavy silence of the warehouse.
For a long, terrible moment, nothing happened.
Then, a massive, black paw slapped onto the edge of the frozen concrete.
Marco and Alessandro rushed forward, pulling the heavily battered, soaking-wet dog from the freezing water.
The grenade had detonated deep underwater, saving them all, but Bruno had somehow managed to swim back up.
Emma dropped to her knees, wrapping her tiny arms around his wet, shivering neck, crying tears of pure joy.
Against all medical logic, Bruno opened one yellow eye and gently licked her cheek.
Six months later, the Moretti estate was a completely different world.
The Russian syndicate had been completely dismantled, their territory absorbed into Alessandro’s untouchable empire.
Alessandro sat on the veranda, his shoulder fully healed, watching the summer sun set over the gardens.
Sophia sat beside him, no longer wearing a maid’s uniform, but an elegant dress befitting the woman who now helped run his legitimate businesses.
He reached over and gently took her hand, a quiet promise of a future they were building together.
Down on the grass, Emma was attempting to put a flower crown on Bruno’s massive head.
The old dog, now fitted with a high-tech brace for his hip, simply sighed and allowed it.
They were a strange family, forged in blood and loyalty, but they were finally safe.
Then, Marco walked onto the veranda, holding a thick, unmarked envelope.
Sophia opened it, finding a photograph of her late husband shaking hands with Victor Romanov.
Written in fresh red ink across the back of the photo were three terrifying words.
May you like
He faked it.
Her husband was alive, and he was coming for his daughter.
