Chapter 20 - The Unwritten Horizon|
Six months later.
The high-stakes war that had threatened to tear the syndicate apart after Salvatore Moretti's death had ended in absolute victory for the Cross family. Vincent had consolidated total control over the city's harbor, establishing an untouchable empire.
Fay's mother was now completely in remission, living in a beautiful, sunlit cottage in the suburbs funded entirely by the estate.
Fay no longer wore maid aprons or assistant blouses. She stood on the grand marble terrace of the Cross estate wearing an exquisite dark emerald silk gown, a diamond pendant resting against her collarbone.
Vincent stepped out onto the terrace, wearing a midnight-blue tuxedo. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest as they looked out over the glowing city lights below.
"The Commission officially surrendered their northern territory an hour ago," Vincent murmured near her ear, his breath warm against her skin. "The city is entirely ours."
Fay turned her head, smiling up at him. "Ours?"
"Ours," Vincent repeated softly, reaching into his coat pocket. He pulled out a velvet box, opening it to reveal a magnificent black diamond ring surrounded by platinum leaves.
Fay's breath hitched in her throat.
Before she could speak, a sharp, urgent knock echoed from the heavy glass terrace doors.
Marco stepped onto the balcony, holding a bloody silver seal retrieved from an incoming courier. His expression was grimmer than Fay had ever seen it.
"Boss," Marco said quietly, his voice heavy with foreboding. "We have a massive problem. Vincent's father... isn't dead. And he just landed at the private airfield with an army."
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Vincent froze, his grip on the velvet ring box tightening as his dark eyes locked onto Marco.
Fay looked from Marco to Vincent, feeling the warm summer night air instantly turn ice cold around them as the ghost of the empire's past returned to reclaim its throne...
