Chapter 70
The heavy oak doors of the east wing opened, and four-year-old Ruby ran down the hallway, her tiny flats tapping on the marble. Her fair, rosy cheeks were flushed with the excitement of a new day. "Daddy! You came back!" Ruby cheered, running toward them. Domenico dropped to one knee, effortlessly catching his daughter and lifting her high into the cinematic, bright air. "I always come back to you, little bird," Domenico murmured, his deep voice filled with profound, unwavering devotion. He pulled her securely against his chest, standing up and wrapping his other arm around Evelyn’s waist. He looked out through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows at his sprawling, secure empire. He had navigated the absolute darkest, most violent corners of the world to protect this exact moment of pristine tranquility. He had burned cartels to ashes, dismantled political alliances, and executed corporate billionaires. He was a terrifying monster to the world outside, but within these walls, he was a protector. The Falcone syndicate was invincible. The borders were impenetrable. Domenico held his family in the warm, natural sunlight, knowing that their reign, and their peace, was finally eternal.
