THE MAFIA BOSS WATCHED ME STRUGGLE TO CARRY HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER WITH ONE ARM PRESSED AGAINST MY RIBS—THEN HIS FIANCÉE SAID, “SHE FELL IN THE SERVICE COURTYARD,” BEFORE HE HAD EVEN ASKED WHY I COULDN’T STAND STRAIGHT. Four more steps.

Luca caught me, wrapping his massive arms around me.

He was warm, solid, and alive. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the scent of gun smoke and rain.

"He's gone," Luca whispered, his chin resting on top of my head. "Mark is gone. He won't ever come near you or Leo again."

I didn't ask if Mark was dead. I didn't want to know. I only cared that the nightmare was finally over.

The backup generators kicked in, flooding the room with warm, golden light.

Eleanor lowered her gun, leaning against the wall, her chest heaving with relief. She looked at Luca, her eyes filled with maternal pride and sorrow.

"You fought for her," Eleanor said softly. "Just like Lorenzo fought for me."

Luca pulled back slightly, looking down at me. His dark eyes traced the contours of my face, wiping a smear of plaster from my cheek with his thumb.

"We need to leave Chicago," Luca said, his voice urgent but calm. "Marco’s men will realize what happened soon. The syndicate is fractured. It’s not safe here."

He turned to the nightstand, picking up the carved wooden box and the marriage certificate.

"My father left this island to your mother. It belongs to you, Emily. We can take Leo, take my mother, and disappear. Tonight."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of passports and a private aviation ticket.

He had prepared an escape route.

"A private flight leaves O'Hare in two hours," Luca said, pressing the ticket into my hand. "We walk away. We let the cartels tear each other apart."

I looked at the shiny, gold-foiled ticket in my hand.

Safety. Peace. A private island where Leo could grow up without fear, without guns, without lies.

I looked at Leo, sitting on the bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Then, I looked at Luca.

He was a king. A man born to rule, raised in power, who had just discovered his entire lineage was a lie. But he was willing to throw it all away, to abandon his empire, just to keep me safe.

Reversal.

I didn't want to run.

For eleven years, I had run. I hid in cheap apartments, worked back-breaking jobs, bowed my head, and let people like Vanessa treat me like dirt.

I was Lorenzo Moretti’s biological daughter.

And Luca was the strongest boss Chicago had ever seen.

I slowly handed the plane ticket back to Luca.

Luca frowned, confused. "Emily, we don't have time. We have to go."

"No," I said, my voice steady, surprising even myself.

I reached up and touched the bandage on his temple.

"Marco Falcone thinks he can use me as bait. Daniel thought he could steal your throne. Mark thought we were weak."

I looked into Luca’s dark, beautiful eyes.

"If we run, they win," I whispered. "If we run, we spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders."

Eleanor stood up straighter, watching me with a sudden, fierce respect.

"What are you saying, Emily?" Luca asked, his voice dropping to a low rumble.

I took the carved wooden box and placed it gently on the nightstand. I didn't need a hidden island. I didn't need to hide anymore.

"I'm saying," I replied, taking Luca’s hand, "that you are a Moretti. Blood or not. You are the boss."

Luca’s grip tightened on my fingers. A dangerous, thrilling fire ignited in his eyes.

"And I," I continued, lifting my chin, "am the rightful heir to the Falcone empire."

I pulled the silver locket from my neck, and the broken half Luca had taken from Mark. I pressed the two pieces together. They clicked perfectly, making the falcon crest whole again.

"We aren't running, Luca," I said, a slow, powerful smile spreading across my face.

Luca took the plane ticket, pulled a silver lighter from his pocket, and set the edge of the paper on fire. We watched it burn, dropping the ashes into a crystal ashtray.

He pulled me flush against his chest, his lips brushing against my ear, sending a shockwave of electricity down my spine.

"What are we doing, then?" he murmured.