Chapter 13 - The Empress of the Underworld
Dawn broke over New York City, painting the skyline in hues of pale gold and crimson.
At the Gallo private hospital in lower Manhattan, the top trauma surgeons had successfully patched Dominic’s shoulder wound. Dressed in a clean black silk shirt, his arm in a sling, Dominic walked out into the private courtyard where Nora was waiting.
The morning air was crisp and clean.
Nora sat on a stone bench beneath an oak tree, holding a sketchpad in her lap. Her hands, still bandaged, moved lightly across the paper, sketching the sunrise over the city.
She looked up as Dominic approached. The cold, ruthless killer from the previous night had settled back into her quiet, poised composure. But there was a new understanding between them—an unspoken bond forged in fire and blood.
Dominic sat beside her, looking at the sketch.
“You’re really good at that,” he murmured.
“I told you. I love restoring broken things,” Nora replied softly, looking at him with a tender smile.
Dominic reached out with his uninjured hand, taking hers.
“The Five Families called an emergency summit this morning,” Dominic said. “They know what happened at the estate. They know what happened at the docks. Arthur’s empire has been absorbed into the Gallo family. We now control every trade route on the East Coast.”
Nora tilted her head. “And what did you tell them about me?”
Dominic’s lips curved into a proud, dangerous smile.
“I told them that my wife is the head of Gallo internal security. I told them that if any family steps out of line, I won’t send an army of soldiers.”
He brought her bandaged knuckles to his lips and kissed them gently.
May you like
“I told them I’ll send you.”
Nora let out a soft laugh, resting her head against his sound shoulder. “A fair warning.”
