Chapter 7 - The Last Waltz
The estate was quiet by two in the morning. The guests had long since dispersed, scattering back to their respective territories like rats fleeing a sinking ship, leaving Alessandro and me alone in the sprawling, marble-floored conservatory that overlooked Lake Michigan.
The dark water stretched out endlessly beneath a canopy of winter stars, the distant city lights twinkling like broken diamonds against the horizon.
Alessandro stood beside me, leaning against the wrought-iron railing, holding two crystal flutes filled with vintage champagne. He handed one to me, his fingers brushing against mine.
—You were magnificent tonight, —he said softly, a genuine, warm smile finally reaching his eyes. —I spent six years trying to keep you away from this world, and you walked right into the lion's den and brought the whole kingdom to its knees in twenty minutes.
I took a sip of the champagne, letting the cool bubbles wash over my tongue before turning to face him. —You should have trusted me from the beginning, Alessandro. Secrets don't protect people; they just build cages.
He looked down, his jaw tightening as he acknowledged the truth in my words. —I know. I was terrified of losing you. Every day I woke up wondering if my enemies would find out how much I loved you and use you to destroy me.
—Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore, —I said, resting my glass on the stone railing. —The kingdom has a new queen. And she rewrites the rules.
Alessandro’s dark eyes softened. He set his glass aside, stepped closer, and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against his chest with a tenderness that defied the brutal world we lived in.
—Does this mean I have to court you all over again? —he murmured against my hair, his breath warm in the chill night air.
—It means you’re going to take me out to a real birthday dinner, —I whispered, smiling as I wrapped my arms around his neck. —Without bodyguards, without hidden ledgers, and without any other women on your arm.
May you like
—It’s a deal, Signora Marino, —he said, before leaning down to press his lips against mine.
The cold wind whipped off Lake Michigan, but inside the circle of his arms, I wasn't cold anymore. The nightmare was over, the blood on the ring had been washed clean, and for the first time in our marriage, we were finally standing on equal ground.
