Chapter 9 - The First Step
Dawn broke over the Boston harbor, casting a golden light through the mansion windows.
In the private rehabilitation gym, the heavy tension of the past twenty-four hours hung in the air. The corrupt doctor and Dominic were locked securely in the syndicate's underground holding cells, awaiting a very permanent reckoning.
Massimo sat in his wheelchair, looking battered, exhausted, but entirely transformed. The fog of the poison was completely gone from his system.
Standing in front of him was Tessa, holding out a pair of heavy parallel rehabilitation bars.
Massimo stared at the bars, his jaw tight. He looked up at Tessa, remembering the absolute hell they had survived together. The arrogance was gone from his eyes, replaced by a profound, raw respect.
"You saved my life, Tessa," Massimo said quietly, his deep voice carrying a rare, gentle vulnerability.
"You saved mine, too, Massimo," Tessa replied, offering a small, reassuring smile. "Now... are we going to do this willingly, or do I need to lock your wheels again?"
A slow, genuine smirk finally broke across Massimo’s rugged face—the first real smile he had shown in six months.
He gripped the parallel bars with his massive, tattooed hands. He took a slow, deep, natural breath.
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And slowly, agonizingly, he pushed his weight upward.
👉 The feared mafia boss stood tall on his own two feet for the first time in six months, proving that true strength cannot be broken by a broken spine.
