Chapter 17 - The Empire Begins to Change
Dominic discovered that leaving a criminal empire involved more paperwork than running one.
His attorneys filled the dining-room table with contracts.
Companies were audited.
Properties were sold.
Old partnerships were dissolved.
Every week, someone warned him he was surrendering power.
Dominic stopped caring.
He retained the construction firm his father had started legally decades earlier.
He kept several restaurants.
He kept commercial real estate.
Everything else went.
Mateo stayed.
Not as an armed lieutenant.
As head of corporate security.
He hated the new title.
“It sounds boring.”
“It is boring.”
“I miss the old days.”
Dominic looked at him.
“No, you don’t.”
Mateo considered.
“No.”
Thomas eventually joined the company as a safety consultant.
The irony amused Norah.
“My formerly dead father works for my formerly criminal fiancé.”
Dominic looked offended.
“Formerly criminal is reductive.”
“You’re right. Reforming criminal.”
“Better.”
By thirty-five weeks, Norah could no longer tie her shoes comfortably.
Dominic volunteered.
She hated how much she enjoyed watching the once-feared Don kneel on the floor tying sneakers.
“Don’t tell Mateo.”
“I’m absolutely telling Mateo.”
“Cruel.”
“You’ll survive.”
Lily attended every baby-preparation class she was allowed to enter.
She had also abandoned Princess Sparkle as a name.
Her new suggestion was Elena.
Norah froze when she heard it.
Dominic did too.
“Why Elena?” he asked.
“Because that was Mommy’s name.”
Silence.
Lily looked worried.
“Is it bad?”
Dominic pulled her into his arms.
“No.”
Norah watched tears fill his eyes.
Later, she found him alone in the kitchen.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t always have to be fine.”
He smiled weakly.
“I know.”
Norah touched his arm.
“Would that be too painful?”
“Elena?”
“Yes.”
Dominic thought.
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Elena gave me Lily.”
He looked toward the playroom.
“If our daughter carries a piece of her name, I think that’s beautiful.”
Norah smiled.
“Maybe middle name.”
“Deal.”
They chose Grace Elena Russo.
The name felt right.
At thirty-seven weeks, Vittorio accepted a federal plea agreement after prosecutors produced overwhelming financial evidence.
He would spend the remainder of his meaningful life in prison.
Dominic read the news at breakfast.
Norah watched him.
“How do you feel?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s not true.”
He considered.
“Free.”
She squeezed his hand.
That evening, they held a small dinner.
No armed guards.
No business associates.
Only family.
Mateo.
Thomas.
Lily.
Norah.
Dominic.
At dessert, Thomas lifted his glass.
“To second chances.”
Dominic looked at Norah.
She smiled.
“To second chances.”
The baby arrived nine days later.
Naturally, she chose the least convenient moment.
Three fifteen in the morning.
Norah shook Dominic awake.
“Dominic.”
He mumbled.
“Dominic.”
“What?”
“My water broke.”
He sat upright instantly.
“What?”
“My water broke.”
Dominic stared at the bed.
Then at her.
Then at the clock.
Then back at her.
Norah almost laughed.
“The baby is coming.”
“I know.”
“You look like you don’t know.”
“I know.”
“Then move.”
Dominic leaped out of bed.
He pulled on mismatched socks.
Forgot his shoes.
Returned for the hospital bag.
Forgot Norah.
She stood in the hallway laughing.
“You’re terrible at this.”
“I’m adapting.”
Lily woke during the chaos.
“Is Grace coming?”
Thomas arrived to stay with her.
Dominic drove to the hospital at exactly the speed limit.
Norah noticed.
“You’ve changed.”
“I learned my lesson.”
Labor lasted eleven hours.
Dominic remained beside her for every minute.
Norah threatened him twice.
Cursed him approximately fourteen times.
Broke the circulation in his hand.
He considered all of it reasonable.
At two twenty-seven in the afternoon, Grace Elena Russo entered the world screaming.
The sound destroyed Dominic.
He cried openly.
Norah had never seen him do that.
The nurse placed Grace against Norah’s chest.
Tiny.
Warm.
Perfect.
Dominic touched one finger to his daughter’s cheek.
“Hi,” he whispered.
Norah looked at him.
His eyes were red.
“So intimidating.”
“Be quiet.”
She laughed weakly.
Grace opened her eyes.
Dark.
Like Lily’s.
Like Dominic’s.
He looked at Norah.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Her.”
Norah shook her head.
“We made her together.”
Dominic kissed Norah’s forehead.
Hours later, Lily arrived.
She approached the hospital bed slowly.
“Is that my sister?”
Norah smiled.
“Yes.”
Lily touched Grace’s tiny hand.
Grace’s fingers closed around hers.
Lily gasped.
“She likes me.”
“She already loves you,” Dominic said.
Lily climbed carefully beside Norah.
Dominic stood nearby.
Thomas watched from the doorway.
For years, family had meant vulnerability to Dominic Russo.
Something enemies could use.
Something loss could destroy.
Now he understood the opposite.
Family was not his weakness.
It was the reason he had finally become strong enough to walk away.
But one final decision remained.
May you like
A decision that would determine whether Norah and Dominic’s future was built from fear—or from something completely different.
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