Chapter 8 - The Mafia Boss Who Gave Up His Empire for the Woman Everyone Had UnderestimatedNico dismantled the criminal side of his business.
People called him weak.
He ignored them.
Legitimate businesses remained.
Warehouses.
Trucking.
Logistics.
Construction.
He closed everything else.
Bella helped restructure the companies.
She understood people.
Nico understood systems.
Together, they became unexpectedly effective.
Tilly became a constant presence.
She drew pictures in Nico's office.
She called his security guards “the serious guys.”
She kept a box of crayons in his expensive desk drawer.
One afternoon, she drew three people.
Herself.
Bella.
Nico.
Then she added a fourth.
A baby.
Bella looked at the picture.
“Nico.”
He smiled.
“I see.”
Tilly nodded.
“A little brother.”
Bella blushed.
Nico laughed.
“Maybe someday.”
The past still followed them.
But it no longer controlled them.
Bella opened her own bakery.
Not a small one.
A beautiful one.
Nico financed it but placed the ownership entirely in her name.
“You did that without telling me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to have something nobody can take away.”
Bella hugged him.
Then came the wedding proposal.
Nico did not hire musicians.
He did not rent a mansion.
He took Bella to the Cobalt-style restaurant where they had first met.
He placed one ring on the table.
“I spent twenty years believing control was the same as safety.”
Bella stared at him.
“I was wrong.”
He took her hand.
“I can't promise your life will never be difficult.”
“I can't promise I'll always know what to do.”
“But I can promise you'll never face it alone.”
Bella cried.
“Yes.”
Tilly screamed.
“Yes!”
Nico laughed.
“Were you supposed to answer for your mother?”
“I was helping.”
The wedding was small.
Family.
Friends.
Employees.
Tilly wore a cream dress and carried Captain Button instead of flowers.
When Bella walked down the aisle, Nico could barely breathe.
She smiled.
He whispered:
“You look beautiful.”
She smiled wider.
“I know.”
He laughed.
The ceremony ended with Tilly shouting:
“Now kiss!”
Everyone applauded.
Nico kissed Bella.
For the first time in decades, he felt no need to watch the door.
He had finally found home.
But on their wedding night, Bella received one final envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Thomas.
May you like
On the back:
There is one final truth he never told you.
