Chapter 8 - A NEW DAWN|
By three in the morning, the St. Regis suite was cleared by federal agents.
Chloe and Marro were led away in handcuffs through the hotel's rear entrance, surrounded by news crews and flashing blue lights. The news of the grand betrayal and the instant downfall of the Marro crime syndicate was already trending across every major financial network.
Dominic and Nora stood on the balcony of the penthouse office back downtown.
The storm had passed, leaving the Manhattan skyline bright, clear, and quiet beneath the glowing moon.
"Her father is awake," Marco announced, stepping out onto the terrace. "The doctors at St. Jude's said the new medication cleared his lungs. He's asking for you, Nora."
Nora felt a tear slip down her cheek, but for the first time in years, it was a tear of pure relief.
"Go see him, Nora," Dominic said softly, turning to face her. "My driver will take you."
Nora looked down at the six-carat emerald-cut diamond ring still resting in her coat pocket. She pulled it out and tried to hand it back to him.
"You should keep this safe," she said quietly.
Dominic looked at the ring, then reached out and gently closed her fingers back over the stone.
"My mother told me that ring belongs to a woman who possesses true loyalty," Dominic said, his eyes searching her face. "A woman who doesn't run when the dark comes."
Nora's breath hitched. "Dominic... I'm just a maid."
May you like
"You were a maid yesterday," Dominic corrected, his hand sliding up to cup her jawline with gentle warmth. "Today, you are the head of the Russo Foundation. And tomorrow... well, tomorrow we'll see where the road takes us."
Nora looked into his pale blue eyes and saw no mobster, no terrifying criminal—only a man who had finally found someone he could trust with his life.
