Chapter 14 - THE EMPEROR'S SHADOWSix months had passed since the night Vivien Vance vanished into the Atlantic mist. The Boston underworld had settled into an era of unprecedented peace—a peace enforced by the absolute, unyielding iron fist of the Duca syndicate, but tempered by a new, unexpected warmth within the grand waterfront estate.
The sprawling lawns overlooking the harbor were no longer patrolled by paranoid guards alone; they echoed with the bright, ringing laughter of a three-year-old girl chasing golden retrievers across the dew-kissed grass.
Inside the study, Lorenzo Duca stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching Mia build a castle out of wooden blocks on the Persian rug while Elena sat nearby, reading a book of poetry with a peaceful, untroubled smile.
Rocco knocked softly on the open door frame, stepping inside with a fresh leather portfolio under his arm.
"The federal district attorney just closed the investigation into the shipping terminal audits," Rocco said, a rare grin breaking across his heavy features. "Not a single discrepancy found. The foundation is completely legal, tax-exempt, and untouchable."
May you like
Lorenzo nodded slowly, his gaze returning to the little girl in the center of the room. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his heavy gold signet ring—the one Mia had played with on her first night in his sanctuary—and slid it back onto his finger.
"Good," Lorenzo murmured. "Tell the patrols to double the perimeter anyway. Nobody touches what is mine."
