Chapter 10 - The Queen of the City
One year later.
The autumn sky over Philadelphia was a brilliant canopy of gold and amber.
At the top of The Grand Belvedere, in the private glass penthouse overlooking the entire skyline, a grand celebration was underway. The city’s legitimate leaders, community directors, and business moguls gathered to celebrate the opening of the Hayes-Rossi Children's Foundation—a fifty-million-dollar charitable trust established to build community centers and medical clinics across South Philadelphia.
Sadie stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass window, wearing a stunning off-the-shoulder midnight-blue gown, a brilliant diamond necklace resting against her collarbone.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Gabriel pulled her gently against his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder, his warmth enveloping her completely.
“Thinking about South Philly?” Gabriel murmured in her ear.
“I was thinking about a rain-soaked alley,” Sadie smiled softly, leaning her head back against his shoulder. “And how stupid I was to step into it.”
“It was the smartest thing you’ve ever done,” Gabriel teased, kissing her neck softly. “And certainly the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Sadie turned in his arms, resting her hands against his chest, looking up into those gray eyes that had once terrified her, but now held only unconditional love and absolute devotion.
“The foundation board unanimously approved the new medical clinic location near Broad Street today,” Sadie said proudly. “Free medical care for every family in the district.”
“Anything the Queen wants, the Queen gets,” Gabriel smiled, his hands smoothing down the silk of her waist. “The city is yours, Sadie.”
“I don't care about the city, Gabriel,” she whispered, reaching up to gently trace the faint scar on his jaw—the scar left by her own stitches. “I only care about the man who keeps his promises.”
Gabriel leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a deep, passionate kiss as the city lights twinkled like a million diamonds far below them.
May you like
She had kissed a bleeding stranger to save his life in the dark.
And in return, he had given her the world.
