Chapter 3
On the video feed, the heavy mahogany doors of Harrison’s villa were torn from their hinges.
4 of Roman’s armed men poured into the room.
Harrison screamed and dropped the tablet. The screen fell to the floor, showing only the ceiling while the frantic sounds of his capture filled the connection.
“No! Chloe, please! Tell them to stop. Chloe!”
His screams receded into the distance, followed by the heavy sound of a door slamming.
The villa became silent.
Roman reached forward and ended the call.
The display turned black.
It was over.
Chloe stared at the dark screen for a long time.
The man who had betrayed her, attempted to destroy her life, and threatened the future of their child was gone.
Erased.
She felt no pity.
There was only a profound and liberating relief.
Roman gently placed his hands on her shoulders. The warmth of his touch steadied her.
“He will never hurt you again,” Roman promised quietly. “He will spend the remainder of his miserable life working off the interest on his debt in a subterranean cobalt mine in the Congo.”
His hands remained on her shoulders.
“He no longer exists.”
Chloe looked up at Roman.
The ruthless and terrifying Mafia leader had become her savior, protector, and partner.
During the previous 48 hours, she had seen the man beneath the monster—a man of fierce loyalty, protective rage, and undeniable strength.
“Thank you,” she whispered, covering his large hand with hers.
Roman bent down and softly touched his lips to the crown of her head.
“No, mia regina. Thank you. You have just proven that you are more dangerous than any soldier in my syndicate.”
6 months later, a summer breeze moved in from the Long Island Sound and gently lifted the sheer curtains of the master suite.
Chloe stood on the balcony, holding and soothing a beautiful, healthy baby boy in her arms. She wore a white silk dress, and a massive, flawless diamond rested on her left ring finger.
Behind her, the heavy wooden door opened.
Roman entered, having just returned from a meeting with the heads of the 5 families.
He looked at Chloe and his son, and the cold, ruthless exterior of the Mafia boss disappeared completely.
Roman walked onto the balcony and wrapped his strong arms around Chloe’s waist from behind. He kissed her neck before leaning forward to kiss the baby’s forehead.
“How was the meeting?” Chloe asked, settling against him.
“They fell in line,” Roman murmured, his deep voice vibrating against her back. “Particularly after they saw the new financial structures you created. They know the Costa family is untouchable now.”
He held her more tightly.
“They know who truly runs the empire.”
Chloe smiled and looked across the sprawling, heavily guarded estate.
She had arrived there as a prisoner, a desperate piece of collateral abandoned by a coward.
But she had rewritten her destiny.
She had burned her former life to the ground and built an empire from the ashes, standing beside the most dangerous man in New York.
Harrison Cole was a forgotten ghost, buried in the darkest corners of the earth.
Chloe Costa was a queen.
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Her reign had only begun.
Disclaimer: This story is fictional and created for entertainment purposes only. Any names, characters, places, or events are fictitious or used fictitiously. No real person or organization is intended to be portrayed.
