Chapter 13 - Bloodlines and Broken Vows
The following week, the final formal meeting of the Syndicate Commission was convened at a neutral luxury hotel downtown.
Luca attended, not to engage in criminal disputes, but to officially sever his shipping enterprise from all illicit syndicate activities. I waited for him in the private VIP lounge on the top floor, sipping chamomile tea while Daniel stood guard at the double doors.
When the heavy oak doors of the boardroom finally opened, the heads of the five major families walked out, their faces grim but deeply respectful.
Luca walked out last, holding a leather folder containing the signed treaties of non-interference.
“It is finished,” Luca said, walking over to me and taking my hand. “The Moretti shipping lines are fully independent. We are bound to no council, no crime families, and no illegal syndicates.”
“Did they give you any trouble?” I asked, searching his calm face.
“They know better,” Luca said with a subtle smirk. “They understand that peace with Luca Moretti is far more profitable than war.”
As we rode the private elevator down to the garage, Luca pulled an envelope from his inner pocket and handed it to me.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Open it.”
I broke the wax seal and slid out the contents.
It was the deed to 117 Willow Street.
Beneath Luca’s name on the title, freshly stamped by the city registrar, was my name: Claire Dawson-Moretti.
I stared at the paper, my breath catching in my throat.
“Claire,” Luca said, turning to face me in the quiet elevator.
He reached into his pocket and knelt down on one knee.
He pulled out a small black velvet box, opening it to reveal a stunning diamond ring set in platinum, flanked by two small sapphire stones that matched the pendant around my neck.
“Two years ago, you walked into my home as an employee,” Luca said, his voice rich with raw, unfiltered emotion. “You saw a broken man and a grieving little girl, and instead of walking away, you gave us your heart. You saved our lives, Claire. You gave me back my soul.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked down at the man who had become my entire world.
“Claire Dawson,” Luca whispered, taking my trembling hand. “Will you marry me? Will you make our family complete?”
“Yes!” I cried, falling to my knees to throw my arms around his neck. “Yes, Luca! A thousand times, yes!”
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Luca slipped the ring onto my finger, lifting me up into his arms and spinning me around as the elevator doors chimed open into the private garage.
He kissed me with a fierce, joyful passion that made the entire world disappear.
