Chapter 10 - A Princess in the Kingdom
Six months later, life in the Romano estate had permanently changed.
The heavy, suffocating silence that had haunted the vast limestone corridors for five long years was gone, replaced forever by the patter of tiny running feet, the squeak of rolling toy carts, and the endless chorus of children's songs echoing through the halls.
In the south garden, a massive playground had been erected—complete with a two-story wooden castle, velvet-lined swings, and a miniature security checkpoint staffed by two very confused, very well-paid Romano soldiers who took their job of guarding the sandbox with extreme tactical seriousness.
I sat on a wrought-iron bench beneath the blooming cherry blossom trees, watching Emily sit at a nearby patio table, reviewing the syndicate’s international shipping contracts with calm, razor-sharp efficiency. She had transformed the northern ports into the most lucrative, airtight operation the family had ever seen. The criminal underworld was more stable, peaceful, and prosperous than it had ever been under my father's reign.
""Mister Teddy! Mister Teddy! Look!""
Daisy came sprinting across the emerald lawn, her chestnut pigtails flying in the wind. She was wearing overalls covered in mud and a miniature yellow construction hat. In her chubby little hands, she carried a giant, squirming earthworm.
""I found a dragon!"" she announced proudly, thrusting the muddy creature directly into my face. ""His name is Sir Wiggles! He wants to live in your pocket!""
Most men in my position would have recoiled. My enemies had watched me execute traitors without blinking an eye.
I looked at the muddy worm, then down at Daisy’s glowing, triumphant face.
""Sir Wiggles is very handsome, Daisy,"" I said solemnly. ""However, I think Sir Wiggles prefers the royal garden soil over my Italian silk pockets. Dragons need dirt to breathe fire.""
Daisy considered this for a long moment, tapping her chin with a dirty finger. ""You are very smart, Mister Teddy. Okay! Back to the moat, Sir Wiggles!""
She turned and toddled furiously back toward the flowerbeds, shouting orders to Gianni to help her dig a deeper hole for the dragon's lair. Gianni immediately dropped to his knees in his thousand-dollar suit, digging in the dirt with an antique silver spoon.
Emily looked up from her documents, catching my eye with a knowing, radiant smile. ""You know you're completely spoiling her, right? She thinks she rules the entire state of Illinois.""
""She does rule Illinois,"" I replied, leaning back against the bench, feeling the warm afternoon sun on my face. ""And she deserves every single inch of it.""
I touched the golden teddy bear pin on my lapel, its polished surface catching the light.
Five years of darkness, grief, and cold vengeance had defined my existence. I had thought I was built only for war, destined to spend my life guarding a lonely, bloody throne. But a tiny stranger with a pink plastic microphone and an impossibly brave heart had shattered that darkness in a single evening.
She had brought my sister back from the dead. She had restored my family. She had taught Chicago’s most feared monster how to laugh again.
From across the lawn, Daisy suddenly stopped digging, turned around, and pointed her muddy trowel straight at me.
""MISTER TEDDY! WHY YOU NO DIGGING-DIG? COME HELP OR I TELL MY BEAR!""
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I smiled, standing up from the bench, brushing off my trousers, and rolling up my sleeves to expose the black tattoos that no longer felt like armor, but merely history.
""Coming, Princess,"" I called back, stepping into the sunshine. ""Uncle Dom is on his way."""
