“THAT CHAIR IS FOR FAMILY, NOT A MAID'S LITTLE BOY!” THE MAFIA BOSS'S FIANCÉE SCREAMED, DRAGGING MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON AWAY FROM THE DINNER TABLE.

My hands shook as I broke the red wax seal on the parchment.

Luca walked into the study, wiping sweat from his brow after playing with Oliver. He stopped when he saw my face.

"What is it, Claire?" he asked, his voice instantly laced with concern.

"It's from Matteo," I whispered, staring at the familiar handwriting.

Luca crossed the room in three long strides. He stood beside me, his shoulder brushing mine, as we read the letter together.

My beautiful Claire,

If you are reading this, the worst has happened, and I did not make it back to you. I bought this necklace on layaway the month we got married. I wanted to give it to you on our fifth anniversary. I arranged for an anonymous trust to pay it off and ship it to you if I ever disappeared.

I am so sorry I couldn't be the husband you deserved to grow old with. I am sorry I had to leave you in the dark, but it was the only way to keep you and Oliver off Silvio's radar.

Do not mourn me forever, Claire. You are too bright, too full of life to stay buried in the past. If you ever find love again, take it. You have my blessing.

And Luca... if you are reading this over her shoulder, know that I never hated you. I loved you, little brother. Protect my wife. Protect my son. Be the man I know you are.

Forever yours, Matteo.

A single tear fell from my chin, splashing onto the heavy parchment.

I covered my mouth with my hand, letting out a shattered sob. It was his final blessing. His final act of love, reaching out from beyond the grave to make sure I knew I was free.

Luca was completely silent beside me. I looked up at him. Tears were streaming freely down his face, tracking over his tattoos. The fierce, untouchable boss was crying openly for the brother he had finally forgiven.

He reached out and gently touched the diamond necklace in the box.

"He always had better taste than me," Luca choked out, a wet laugh escaping his lips.

I smiled through my tears. "He did."

The funeral, held three days later, was a massive affair. Hundreds of people attended. The entire mafia commission stood in the rain to pay their respects to the man who had saved them all.

I wore black, but I wore the diamond necklace. It felt like a shield of armor against my chest.

When we returned to the mansion, the house felt quiet, but peaceful.

Luca found me in the conservatory, staring out at the gardens. He had two glasses of wine in his hands. He handed one to me.

"So," Luca said softly, leaning against the glass wall. "What happens now?"

I looked at my wine. "I suppose Oliver and I will find a house. Somewhere quiet. Start over."

Luca’s hand tightened on his glass. He didn't look at me; he looked out at the lawn.

"You don't have to leave, Claire."

"Luca, I can't live here forever. You have your own life to live. The family business..."

"The business is changing," Luca interrupted, his voice firm. "I'm dissolving the illegal operations. Moving everything into legitimate real estate and charity. I don't want Oliver growing up in a world where he has to look over his shoulder."

He finally turned to look at me, his dark eyes intense and incredibly vulnerable.

"Matteo asked me to protect you," Luca said, stepping closer. "But I don't want you to stay because it's an obligation. I want you to stay because this is your home. You and Oliver... you're my family, Claire. The only family I have left."

My heart did a strange, fluttering beat in my chest. Over the past few weeks, the terrifying monster I thought Luca was had entirely vanished, replaced by a fiercely loyal, deeply broken man who was desperately trying to put the pieces of his life back together.

"Stay," Luca whispered, his voice incredibly tender. "Please."

Before I could answer, the conservatory doors burst open.