Chapter 8 - The Mafia Boss Who Was Supposed to Take My Fortune Gave It All Away
The trust was worth more than either of them had imagined.
Hundreds of millions.
Hospitals.
Research facilities.
Stocks.
Real estate.
Offshore accounts.
Everything had been hidden.
The lawyers expected Lorenzo to take control.
Instead, he transferred the majority to a medical foundation.
Mia stared at the documents.
“You don't have to do this.”
“Yes.”
“That's your money too.”
“No.”
“It was left to you.”
“My father left it to the person who could undo his mistakes.”
He handed her the foundation papers.
“You.”
Mia stared.
“You're serious.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you should never have to choose between a patient and a bill again.”
Her eyes filled.
“You really are impossible.”
“I've been told.”
The foundation began funding hospitals.
Scholarships.
Free surgeries.
Medication programs.
Whistleblower protection.
The city changed.
So did Lorenzo.
He shut down the remaining criminal operations.
Some resisted.
One tried to kill him.
Mia was at his side when he came home bleeding.
“You're supposed to be retired.”
“I am.”
“Retired men don't get stabbed.”
“Apparently.”
She cleaned the wound.
He watched her.
“You're angry.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you think protecting me means hiding things.”
He smiled.
“I was wrong.”
“Good.”
He reached for her hand.
“Mia.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
She froze.
No dramatic music.
No audience.
No guns.
Just the man she had treated on a cold Chicago night.
She smiled.
“I know.”
He laughed.
“That wasn't the answer.”
She leaned closer.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her.
The kiss was gentle.
Nothing like the violence surrounding their first meeting.
It felt like a promise.
A week later, Lorenzo proposed.
No restaurant.
No audience.
He took her to the clinic where they had met.
The building had been renovated.
Clean walls.
New supplies.
Medical equipment.
A plaque outside read:
The Katherine Free Surgical Clinic.
Mia stared.
“You did this?”
“With your father's money.”
She looked at him.
“It's not my father's anymore.”
“No.”
He dropped to one knee.
Mia laughed through tears.
“You're doing this here?”
“I wanted to ask where you saved my life.”
She put her hand over her mouth.
“Mia Katherine, I can't promise your life with me will ever be ordinary.”
“I don't want ordinary.”
“I can promise honesty.”
She smiled.
“I want that.”
“I can promise you will never have to carry your father's debts again.”
She laughed.
“Good.”
“I can promise that when you tell me I'm being an idiot, I will listen.”
“That's asking a lot.”
“I know.”
He opened the ring box.
“Marry me.”
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Then stood and kissed her.
May you like
Behind them, the clinic lights glowed.
The place where fear had begun became the place where their future began.
