Chapter 10 - The Master of the House
A year later.
The summer garden behind the Summerlin estate was ablaze with vibrant white roses, blooming lavender, and lush green lawns stretched beneath the clear Nevada sky.
Two hundred guests filled the white wooden chairs lined along the central aisle—not mobsters, not criminals, but city officials, hospital board members, legal aid attorneys, and the entire staff of Lux Catering, all dressed in formal summer attire.
At the front of the lawn, standing under a magnificent arch of white orchids and ivy, stood Dominic Rossi.
He wore an un-blemished white linen suit, looking impossibly broad, handsome, and proud, his grey eyes locked on the French doors at the rear of the terrace.
Beside him stood Ethan, his younger brother whom he had brought home from Europe six months ago to take over the family’s legitimate hospitality real estate holdings, serving as his best man.
The string quartet began to play a slow, breathtaking arrangement of Clair de Lune.
The terrace doors opened.
Penelope Davis stepped onto the lawn.
The entire crowd gasped.
She wore a breathtaking, custom-designed champagne silk wedding gown that swept the ground in a magnificent train, embroidered with thousands of tiny silver threads that caught the afternoon sun like scattered diamonds. Her dark hair was crowned with a delicate tiara of pearls, and her face radiated a power, beauty, and joy that made her look like an empress stepping down to claim her kingdom.
Walking beside her, holding her arm with immense pride, was Arthur Vance.
Dominic didn't breathe. He didn't blink. He stood rooted to the spot, tears glistening in his pale grey eyes as he watched the woman who had struck him in a ballroom walk down the aisle toward him, stepping with absolute, unapologetic confidence into his life forever.
When Arthur reached the altar, he took Penelope’s hand, placed it gently into Dominic’s large, warm palm, and patted Dominic’s shoulder with a quiet nod.
"Take care of her, son," Arthur whispered.
"With my life," Dominic replied, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Dominic pulled Penelope closer, his fingers intertwining with hers as they turned to face the justice of the peace.
"You take up the whole sky, Penelope Rossi," Dominic whispered into her ear so only she could hear.
May you like
Penelope looked up at her husband, her dark eyes shining with infinite love, warmth, and an unbroken spark of fire.
"And you're going to spend the rest of your life watching me, Mr. Rossi," she whispered back.
