Chapter 9 - The Diamond Confession
The room was quiet, illuminated only by the soft glow of the bedside lamps.
Dante sat down gently on the edge of the mattress. He looked exhausted, his black shirt wrinkled, but his eyes were incredibly clear. He reached into his coat pocket and slowly pulled out a small, black velvet box.
He opened it.
Resting inside was a breathtaking, flawless, custom-cut diamond ring. The exact ring the cartel had warned me about.
"I bought this six months ago," Dante whispered, his deep voice thick with profound, overwhelming emotion. "I kept it in the safe. I wanted to give it to you every single day."
I stared at the diamond, my heart hammering violently against my bruised ribs. "Why didn't you?"
"Because of exactly what happened tonight," Dante choked out, tears of raw agony finally pooling in his dark eyes. "I am a monster, Harper. I live in a world of violence and death. I knew that the second my enemies realized you were the only thing I loved, they would put a target on your back. I stayed away to keep you safe. And my distance almost got you killed anyway."
He reached out, his massive, tattooed hand gently tracing the unbruised side of my face.
"I am so sorry I didn't protect you," Dante wept softly, the ruthless executioner completely breaking down for the woman he loved.
I didn't cry. I looked at the man who had just burned down a rival cartel and bankrupted a powerful crime family entirely to avenge me.
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"You didn't fail me, Dante," I smiled gently, leaning my face into his warm palm. "I'm not just a civilian anymore. I'm the one who designed the virus. We protect each other."
👉 The mafia boss finally surrendered his heart, and the brilliant secretary officially claimed her throne.
