Chapter 9 - The Promise He Made to a Three-Year-Old
One year after the arrest, Dante sold most of the companies connected to his old empire.
He kept only the businesses that had been legitimate.
The rest went.
He established a foundation in his father's name.
It helped children whose families had been destroyed by organized crime.
Lena became involved immediately.
Sophia became the unofficial mascot.
She insisted on attending every family event.
"Everybody needs snacks," she declared.
Dante agreed.
"She's right."
Lena laughed.
"You spoil her."
"No."
Dante looked at Sophia.
"I protect her."
Wedding preparations filled the mansion.
Sophia wanted flowers.
Too many flowers.
She wanted a pink dress.
She wanted Dante to wear white.
He refused.
She wanted a chocolate cake taller than herself.
That negotiation lasted forty minutes.
Finally, Dante agreed.
The night before the wedding, Sophia found him sitting alone on the back terrace.
She climbed into the chair beside him.
"Are you nervous?"
Dante looked at her.
"A little."
"Why?"
"Because tomorrow is important."
Sophia nodded.
"Mommy says you're supposed to promise things."
"I am."
"What are you promising?"
Dante thought.
"That I'll take care of your mother."
Sophia frowned.
"That's not enough."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"What else?"
"Me."
He smiled.
"I promise."
"And you."
He laughed.
"That's three promises."
Sophia held out her little pinky.
Dante hooked his pinky around hers.
"Deal."
She leaned against him.
After a moment, she whispered.
"I used to be scared here."
Dante's smile faded.
"When?"
"The first night."
"The storm."
She nodded.
"You were scared."
"Very."
"Are you scared now?"
Sophia looked around the mansion.
"No."
"Why?"
She pointed toward the house.
"Because everyone is here."
Dante looked through the windows.
Lena was in the kitchen.
Mrs. Caruso was arguing with the florist.
Two cousins were carrying boxes.
Someone was laughing.
A little dog barked somewhere down the hall.
The mansion was no longer silent.
Dante looked at Sophia.
"You're right."
"Of course."
She slid off the chair.
"Come inside."
"Why?"
"Mommy says dinner."
Dante stood.
"That is apparently more powerful than I am."
Sophia laughed.
Inside, Lena watched him walk toward them.
He smiled.
She smiled back.
The next day, Dante stood at the end of the aisle.
No guns.
No bodyguards.
No threats.
Just flowers and sunlight and people.
When Lena walked toward him, something inside Dante finally settled.
She reached him.
He whispered.
"You came."
She smiled.
"You asked."
They said their vows.
Sophia cried.
Mrs. Caruso cried.
Even Elias, recovering from his injury and standing near the back, looked away when his eyes became wet.
When the ceremony ended, Sophia ran toward them.
"Family hug!"
Dante bent down.
Lena wrapped her arms around both of them.
The photographer captured the moment.
A former mafia boss.
A former maid.
A little girl with a yellow blanket.
May you like
Three broken people becoming a family.
And for Dante, it was worth more than every dollar he had ever earned.
