Chapter 6
The ride away from the Vance estate was silent, save for the hum of the armored SUV’s engine. The bright afternoon sun washed over the leather interior, casting a warm, golden glow across Maya’s face. She stared out the tinted window, watching the iron gates of her personal prison fade into the distance.
Julian sat across from her, his posture rigid, his eyes mapping the features of her face as if afraid she might vanish again.
"Ten years," Julian finally spoke, his voice thick with unspent emotion. "I spent millions looking for you, Alessia. When the ashes of the compound were cleared, we found your mother. We found the guards. But we never found you or your father."
"He died three days later," Maya said quietly, her eyes remaining fixed on the passing scenery. "He took a bullet in the lung during the escape. He drove us to a motel in Ohio. Before he passed, he gave me the ring and told me to bury my identity. He said the Vitiello family had infiltrated our inner circle, and that I couldn't trust anyone. Not even you."
Julian closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his chest. "He was right to be cautious. The betrayal went deep. It took me five years to purge the traitors from our ranks. I had to become a monster to secure the syndicate. But if I had known you were alive..."
"I was sixteen, Julian," Maya looked at him, her fair skin marked by the dried pink frosting she hadn't yet been able to wash off. "I was terrified. I worked in diners. I changed my hair, my accent. When Richard found me, I thought he was just a wealthy businessman. I thought his arrogance was a shield I could hide behind. By the time I realized what his family really was, I was pregnant with Lily. I couldn't run again with a baby."
"He abused you," Julian stated, his jaw clenching tightly.
"He broke me," Maya corrected, holding the sleeping Lily tighter in her lap. "He made me believe I was entirely dependent on him. He isolated me. He made me the punchline of his social circle. But every night, I touched this ring, and I remembered that I am a Sterling. I survived."
Julian leaned forward, resting his hand gently over hers. "You are more than a survivor, Alessia. You are the heir. Tomorrow, the entire underworld will know that the Queen has returned."
The SUV pulled through a set of towering, wrought-iron gates, vastly outscaling the Vance estate. The Sterling compound was a modern fortress, a stunning architectural marvel of white stone and glass, bathed in the rich, vivid colors of the late afternoon sun.
"Welcome home," Julian said softly as the car came to a smooth halt.
Maya stepped out of the vehicle, the warm breeze catching her ruined ivory dress. She looked up at the towering structure. For the first time in a decade, she didn't feel the urge to hide. She felt the ancient, dormant power of her bloodline waking up in her veins.
May you like
"Julian," Maya said, her voice taking on a new, commanding edge. "I need a shower. I need clothes that don't smell like fear and sugar. And then, I need a list of every asset the Vance family currently holds."
Julian smiled, a sharp, dangerous glint in his eye. "It will be my pleasure, my Queen."
