Chapter 11
Six months into our marriage, the shadows of the past finally faded.
Vanessa was serving a fifteen-year sentence in federal prison for extortion and grand larceny. Victor Thorne’s syndicate had crumbled under pressure from the FBI, thanks to an anonymous tip that Dominic had generously provided.
We were standing in the backyard of the estate, watching Maisie run through the sprinkler on a hot July afternoon.
Dominic had his arm around my shoulders, holding me close against his side.
"She's growing so fast," Dominic said, watching Maisie laugh as the water hit her face.
"Too fast," I agreed, leaning my head on his shoulder.
Dominic reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, familiar object.
It was the silver money clip. The lion's head with the black diamond eyes.
"I talked to the lawyer today," Dominic said quietly. "The adoption is fully finalized. Maisie's birth certificate has been reissued. Her last name is Moretti."
I smiled, feeling a profound sense of peace.
"I want her to have this," Dominic said, looking at the clip. "When she's older. I want her to know that even though Leo couldn't be here, he would have loved her."
"We will tell her," I promised. "When the time is right."
Dominic turned to me, his dark eyes entirely soft. "I bought a house in Tuscany. A villa. I want us to go there next month. Just the three of us. No security details, no business calls. Just a family vacation."
"I would love that," I smiled.
He leaned down to kiss me, but stopped abruptly when Maisie ran up to us, dripping wet and holding a small, muddy box she had dug out of the flowerbed.
"Look what I found!" she cheered.
Dominic chuckled, taking the muddy box. He popped it open.
Inside was a simple, beautiful gold band.
I looked at him, confused. "What is that?"
"Well," Dominic smiled, getting down on one knee right there in the grass. "We got married in a rush in my study. You never got a real proposal. And you never got a real wedding."
I covered my mouth with my hands.
"Claire Moretti," Dominic said, looking up at me with absolute adoration. "Will you do me the honor of marrying me again? This time, in a church, with a white dress, and a daughter who wants to be the flower girl?"
May you like
"Yes," I cried, laughing as he slid the ring onto my finger.
Maisie cheered, throwing her wet arms around both of us.
