Chapter 9 - THE NEW MATRIARCH
One year later.
The grand gardens of the Costa estate were in full bloom, a sea of white roses and lush green ivy bathed in the late afternoon sun.
I stood on the stone terrace, wearing a simple, elegant ivory sundress, holding a crystal glass of sparkling cider. The heavy Costa Diamond rested warmly against my skin, a permanent fixture I had finally grown accustomed to wearing.
Down on the manicured lawn, a massive summer barbecue was in full swing.
The atmosphere was entirely different from the stiff, terrifying formal dinners Meredith had forced upon the house. There were no politicians, no rival syndicate bosses trying to negotiate territory.
It was just family.
Dante was standing by the massive stone grill, wearing a casual linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up, laughing loudly as he flipped burgers. Next to him was Sarah, looking healthier and happier than she had in years, playfully arguing with him over the right way to season the chicken.
Their co-parenting relationship had blossomed into a genuine, sibling-like friendship, built on the trauma they had survived and the daughter they both adored.
“Jenna! Watch this!”
I looked up. Ava was running across the grass, holding the string of a brightly colored kite. She was nine now, taller, and completely free of the anxious shadow that used to follow her.
She let out a joyous squeal as the wind caught the kite, sending it soaring high above the estate walls.
“It’s flying perfectly, sweetie!” I called back, smiling so hard my cheeks ached.
Dante handed the grilling tongs to Sarah and walked up the stone steps toward the terrace.
He stopped beside me, wrapping a strong, warm arm around my waist, pulling me close. I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder.
“She looks happy,” Dante said quietly, watching Ava race across the lawn.
“She feels safe,” I corrected him softly. “She knows she’s loved. That’s all she ever needed.”
Dante turned his head, kissing my temple. “And what about you? Are you happy?”
I looked up at him. The man who had terrified me two years ago was now my entire world. We had spent the last year rebuilding the Costa empire together, transforming the dark, dangerous syndicate into a legitimate shipping enterprise that helped build schools and hospitals instead of tearing them down.
I was no longer the maid. I was his partner, in every sense of the word.
“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” I smiled.
Dante reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small, folded piece of paper.
“I found this in my study this morning,” Dante said, his eyes shining with emotion. “I think you should see it.”
I took the paper and unfolded it.
It was a drawing by Ava.
In the center of the page, drawn with bright, happy crayons, was our house. Standing in front of it were four figures holding hands.
Dante, Sarah, Ava.
And me.
Above the drawing, in Ava’s neat handwriting, were the words: My Family.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I traced my finger over the little crayon figure of myself. I had spent my life feeling like I was on the outside looking in, serving families but never belonging to one.
Now, I was the heart of this home.
“She asked me yesterday if it was okay to call you her second mom,” Dante whispered, brushing a tear from my cheek.
My breath caught in my throat. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her that’s a question she needs to ask you.”
I looked down at the lawn. Ava had handed the kite string to Sarah and was running up the stone steps toward us, her face flushed with excitement.
She stopped in front of me, throwing her arms around my waist in a fierce hug.
“Did you see how high it went, Jenna?” Ava beamed.
I knelt down, bringing myself to her eye level. I smoothed her wild curls away from her forehead, my heart overflowing with a love so fierce it physically ached.
“I saw it, sweetie,” I said softly. “It was beautiful.”
I looked at Dante, who was watching us with an expression of pure, unadulterated devotion.
Then I looked back at the little girl who had changed my life forever.
“Ava,” I said, my voice trembling with happiness. “I would be honored to be your second mom. If you’ll have me.”
Ava’s eyes widened, shining with instant, joyful tears. She threw her arms around my neck, holding on tight.
“I love you, Mom,” she whispered.
I closed my eyes, hugging her back, as Dante’s arms wrapped securely around both of us.
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The dark days were gone. The secrets were buried.
We were finally, completely, home.
