Chapter 10 - Dawn Over Milan
The first rays of sunlight broke over the tiled roofs of Milan, casting a golden hue across the immaculate gardens of Villa Moretti. The air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of blooming jasmine and wet grass from the morning dew.
I stood on the second-floor balcony, holding a cup of hot tea, looking out over the courtyard where armed guards patrolled the perimeter with quiet, disciplined efficiency. The ghosts of my past—poverty, widowhood, fear, and humiliation—felt like distant memories from another lifetime.
Behind me, the glass door slid open softly.
Emma came running out onto the balcony in her colorful pajamas, laughing as she chased her blue rabbit across the stone tiles. Alessandro followed closely behind her, smiling with a relaxed, effortless ease that the old mafia king would have thought impossible just a week ago.
"Mommy! Look! Mr. Bunny wants to see the sunrise!" Emma squealed, holding up the stuffed toy so its sewn ear caught the morning light.
Alessandro stepped up beside me, slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me gently against his side. The gold-stitched emblem of the Moretti ring caught the sun on his finger, but there was no coldness in his touch—only warmth, strength, and an unshakeable promise.
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"Let him look," Alessandro murmured softly, resting his chin gently against my hair. "It’s going to be a very bright day in Milan."
I leaned back against his shoulder, taking a slow sip of my tea, watching the city wake up beneath us. The storm had passed, the traitors were gone, and for the first time in two long years, we were truly safe.
