Chapter 19 - The Sacrifice
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That night, Gabriel fell into a deep, medication-induced sleep.
Madeline stood by the window, watching the rain fall over Chicago. She thought about her mother. She thought about the life she used to have—simple, hard, but safe. And then she looked at the man sleeping in the hospital bed, the ruthless mafia boss who had taken a bullet for her.
If she stayed, Gabriel would lose everything. His empire, his men, his life. The syndicate would turn on him.
She couldn't let him destroy himself for her.
Quietly, she walked over to the bed. She leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Gabriel’s forehead.
"Thank you," she whispered into the dark room.
She pulled away, taking one last look at him. Then, she slipped her hand into her coat pocket, bypassed the sleeping guards at the clinic entrance, and walked out into the freezing night.
She walked for two miles until she reached the neutral territory of a downtown cathedral. Standing under the stone archways were three men in black suits. The Romano lieutenants.
"Madeline Harper," the lead man sneered. "We didn't think you'd actually show up."
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"I'm here," she said coldly, holding her head high. "Take me to your new boss. Let's end this."
They grabbed her arms, shoving her into the back of a waiting car. The door slammed shut, plunging her into darkness. She had given up her freedom to save the man she realized she loved.
