Chapter 8 - Luca Told Me the One Truth He Had Never Told Anyone
A year after the Bellini case, Luca took me back to the old office.
The conference room was empty.
No armed men.
No lies.
No hidden weapons.
Just sunlight through the windows.
He placed a key on the table.
"What is that?"
"The company archives."
"Why?"
"I'm giving you access."
I stared.
"Why?"
"Because you earned it."
I shook my head.
"I don't want power."
"It's not power."
"Then what?"
"Choice."
He smiled.
"You spent three years sitting quietly because you thought being noticed was dangerous."
I looked around the room.
"It was."
"Not anymore."
He stepped closer.
"I want to change something."
"What?"
"My company."
"How?"
"We're opening a legal foundation."
I smiled.
"For what?"
"Scholarships. Legal aid. Support for employees."
"You thought of that yourself?"
"No."
He nodded toward me.
"You did."
I laughed.
"Maybe."
Then he became serious.
"I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"The first time I noticed you wasn't three years ago."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You were nineteen."
I stared.
"What?"
"You came to one of our restaurants with your mother."
I remembered.
"It was my graduation dinner."
He nodded.
"I saw you."
"Why didn't you approach me?"
"Because your father had been watching me from the other side of the room."
I went still.
"My father?"
"He wanted to see whether I was safe."
I laughed softly.
"You were being tested."
"So were you."
"And you passed?"
"I don't know."
He looked at me.
"You did."
I smiled.
"I spent years thinking you barely knew I existed."
"I knew everything."
"That's slightly terrifying."
"I know."
We laughed.
Then he reached into his pocket.
A small box.
My heart stopped.
"Luca."
He opened it.
Inside was a ring.
Not enormous.
Not flashy.
Just elegant.
He looked nervous.
The mafia boss who had stared down twelve armed men without blinking suddenly looked like an ordinary man asking the most important question of his life.
"I don't want a marriage built on debt."
He took my hand.
"I don't want one built on obligation."
He dropped to one knee.
"I want one built on choice."
My eyes filled.
"Sophia Bennett, will you choose me?"
I smiled through tears.
"Yes."
He stood.
I kissed him.
For the first time, I knew exactly where I belonged.
Not behind him.
May you like
Not beneath him.
Beside him.
