Chapter 10 - EMPIRE OF LIGHT
One Year Later
The iron gates of the Barrington Hills estate opened, but there were no heavily armed guards patrolling the perimeter. The cameras were gone. The air felt lighter.
Arthur Sterling sat in the garden pavilion, sipping iced tea. "The transition is complete, Julian. The legitimate logistics company is booming. The casinos are sold. The families have accepted your retirement."
Julian Calveti nodded, leaning back in his chair. He wore a simple linen shirt, his face relaxed, the dark circles under his eyes completely gone. "Good. Tell them if they ever contact me again, I'll send my wife after them. She's far more dangerous than I am."
Sterling chuckled, tipping his hat as he walked away.
Julian turned his attention to the lawn. Toby and Bella were running through the sprinklers, screaming with laughter, completely wild and completely happy.
And chasing after them, laughing just as loudly, was Clara.
She looked radiant. The scars from the past year had healed, leaving behind a woman who wore her strength like a crown. A sparkling diamond rested on her left ring finger, catching the afternoon sun.
Julian walked out onto the grass, letting the water spray against his legs. He caught Clara around the waist, pulling her flush against his chest. She gasped, laughing, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"The lawyer is gone?" she asked, kissing his jaw.
"Business is officially over," Julian murmured, capturing her lips for a deep, lingering kiss that still made her toes curl. "It’s just us now. The empire is legit."
"Good," Clara smiled, resting her forehead against his. "Because this empire is going to need a bigger playroom."
Julian pulled back, his dark eyes widening in shock. He looked at her stomach, then up at her glowing face. "Are you serious?"
Clara nodded, tears of joy welling in her eyes. "Yeah. I am."
May you like
Julian Calveti, the former monster of Chicago, picked up the woman who had saved his soul and spun her around in the summer sun, his laughter echoing across the estate—a sound of pure, unbroken light.
Assuming you enjoyed this thrilling ride, would you like to explore a spin-off focusing on Arthur Sterling’s perspective during the mob war?
