Chapter 9 - The New Dawn
Two weeks later, the private Gulfstream jet soared high above the Atlantic Ocean, cutting through a sea of golden clouds as it headed east toward the Mediterranean.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was peaceful, almost surreal.
Mia was fast asleep in one of the plush leather recliners, clutching a brand-new sketchpad and a box of colored pencils Dante had given her at the airport.
Victoria sat by the window, watching the endless expanse of blue sky unfold below. Her bruises had begun to fade, replaced by a quiet, unbreakable strength in her eyes. She wore a simple white linen dress—no sequins, no diamonds, no armor. Just herself.
Elena sat across the aisle, reading a book on art history, her future secure, her life forever changed by the night she witnessed a monster fall.
The cabin door opened, and Dante stepped inside, carrying a tray with two cups of steaming espresso. He handed one to Victoria and sat down in the seat beside her.
“Thinking about the house?” Dante asked quietly.
Victoria took a sip of the dark, rich coffee, letting a small smile touch her lips. “No. I was thinking about the glass in the foyer.”
“What about it?”
“Michael always said it was imported from Venice,” Victoria murmured, looking out toward the horizon where the sun was beginning to rise. “He said it was unbreakable because it was triple-tempered.”
Dante chuckled softly, a warm, resonant sound. “He was wrong about a lot of things. Especially about what happens when you push people too far.”
Victoria turned her head, meeting her brother’s dark, protective gaze. “He thought he owned everything. He thought we were trapped.”
“People who build cages usually forget to check who holds the key,” Dante said, raising his espresso cup in a silent toast. “Welcome home, Vicky.”
May you like
Victoria clinked her cup against his, looking back down at her sleeping daughter. The nightmare in the marble foyer was over, and the empire belonged to the survivors.
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