The Sins Of The Father

Six Months Later.

The sun was setting over the rugged peaks of the Colorado Rockies, casting a brilliant orange glow across the wooden deck of the cabin.

The air was crisp, smelling of pine trees and woodsmoke.

It was a million miles away from the marble floors and crystal chandeliers of Chicago. And it was perfect.

I stood at the edge of the deck, holding a mug of hot tea.

I was wearing a thick wool sweater and comfortable jeans. No uniform. No apron.

Inside the cabin, the sounds of laughter echoed through the open windows.

Sarah was helping Clara—Dante’s mother—pull a massive tray of fresh cinnamon rolls out of the oven. The two women had bonded instantly, making up for decades of lost time.

Leo was sitting on the living room rug, building a towering block castle with Marco.

The massive head of security had refused to stay in Chicago. He had traded his tailored suits for flannel shirts, taking a job as the head of logistics for Dante’s new, entirely legitimate freight company.

The screen door creaked open.

Dante stepped out onto the deck.

He looked incredible.

The stress lines that used to permanently frame his eyes were gone. He looked younger, lighter. He was holding two glasses of red wine.

He handed one to me and leaned against the wooden railing beside me.

“Mom says the rolls will be ready in ten minutes. If we don’t get in there, Leo and Marco will eat all of them.”

I laughed, taking a sip of the wine.

“I think your mother is just happy to have people to cook for again.”

Dante smiled softly, looking out at the mountains.

“It feels like a dream, Megan. Sometimes I wake up and panic, thinking I’m still in that mansion. Still fighting my father’s wars.”

“Carmine is in a federal penitentiary,” I reminded him gently. “Victor is awaiting trial. Camille is locked away. They can’t reach you here. It’s over.”

Dante turned to look at me.

The setting sun caught the deep amber in his eyes.

“It’s over because you didn’t run away. You stayed, Megan. You crashed your car into a dumpster for me.”

A light blush warmed my cheeks.

“I got a nice severance package out of it. Plus, you bought me a new car.”

Dante chuckled, but his expression quickly turned serious.

He set his wine glass down on the railing.

He turned to fully face me, taking my hands in his.

“I didn’t just bring you to Colorado to manage my new office,” Dante said, his voice dropping to that low, captivating timbre that always made my heart race.

“No?” I whispered.

“No.”

Dante reached into his pocket.

He pulled out a small, worn velvet box.

My breath caught in my throat.

Dante opened it.

Inside wasn’t a massive, gaudy diamond like the one Camille had worn.

It was a delicate, antique gold band with a single, flawless sapphire.

“This was my grandmother’s ring,” Dante said softly.

“My mother gave it to me this morning. She said it belongs to the woman who finally brought her family back together.”

Tears instantly blurred my vision.

Dante didn’t kneel. He just stepped closer, closing the distance between us until I could feel the warmth of his chest.

“I don’t have an empire anymore, Megan. I don’t have mansions or political power. I just have this cabin, a messy family, and a heart that belongs entirely to you.”

He looked deeply into my eyes.

“Will you marry me? Will you build a life with me here?”

I looked at the man who had given up everything to protect the people he loved.

I didn’t hesitate for a single second.

“Yes,” I smiled, a tear slipping down my cheek. “Yes, Dante.”

He slid the beautiful sapphire ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly.

He framed my face with his hands and kissed me, a deep, passionate promise of a future built on truth, not secrets.

Suddenly, the screen door flew open.

Leo ran out onto the deck, his face covered in icing.

“Uncle Dante! Megan! Grandma says the rolls are ready!”

Dante laughed, pulling away just enough to look down at the boy.

“We’re coming, Leo.”