Chapter 7 - The Revelation
The black Cadillac sped back toward the Gold Coast estate under a heavy, weeping Chicago storm.
Inside the rear seat, the atmosphere was suffocating. Marco Rossi was practically vibrating with rage, his hands clenched tightly on his knees as he stared at Victor.
“Are you insane?!” Marco finally exploded, losing his professional composure entirely. “You declared her your fiancée in front of the entire Commission! Victor, the family capos will revolt! They will think you’ve lost your mind! You swore five years ago after Elena died that no woman would ever hold power over this family again!”
Victor sat calmly in his seat, looking out the rain-slicked window at the passing city lights.
“Elena was a traitor who sold my brother for money, Marco,” Victor said coldly. “Chloe is a woman who works three jobs to keep her dying brother alive. Do not ever insult her by comparing her to Elena again.”
“She’s manipulating you!” Marco shouted, his face red with fury. “She used her sick brother to gain your pity! She wormed her way into your bed on her very first week! Can’t you see it, Victor? She was planted by someone!”
“Enough, Marco,” Victor commanded, his voice dangerous and sharp as a razor. “The decision is made. Prepare the estate for a formal engagement announcement tomorrow evening. Every capo in Chicago will attend.”
When the car pulled into the estate courtyard, Victor stepped out and went straight to the second-floor guest wing.
He opened the heavy oak door to Chloe’s room.
Chloe was sitting by the window, wearing a soft grey cashmere sweater, reading a book to Tommy, who was resting comfortably in his bed. When Victor stepped into the room, she instantly stood up, placing her book on the side table.
“Victor!” she said, her eyes lighting up with genuine warmth. “How was your meeting?”
Victor looked at her—taking in her soft beauty, her bright, honest eyes, and the quiet dignity she carried despite everything she had suffered.
He walked over to her, taking her soft, delicate hand in his.
“Tommy,” Victor said gently, glancing at the teenager. “May I speak to your sister in private for a moment?”
“Sure, Mr. Russo,” Tommy smiled, picking up his remote control. “Thanks again for the new video game console!”
Victor led Chloe out of the room, down the grand carpeted hallway, into his private third-floor master suite—the room where her life had changed four nights ago.
He closed the heavy mahogany door, cutting off the sounds of the mansion.
Chloe looked around the grand, dim room, feeling a sudden surge of nervous heat rush through her cheeks as she remembered waking up in his bed.
“Victor... is something wrong?” she asked softly, noticing the intense, dark focus in his grey eyes. “Mrs. Fiore said you were meeting with the other family bosses today.”
Victor walked over to his heavy mahogany desk, reaching down to pull open a locked drawer. He pulled out a small, velvet box and turned back to face her.
“Don Saleri demanded that I hand you and Tommy over to his family today as payment for your father’s debts,” Victor said quietly.
Chloe’s blood ran cold. Her hands started to tremble. “Oh God... Victor, please don't let them take Tommy—”
“I settled your father’s debt,” Victor interrupted gently, stepping right up to her, his massive frame blocking out the cold room. “And then I made a decree to the Commission.”
He opened the velvet box.
Sitting inside was a magnificent, flawless five-carat oval diamond ring, surrounded by a band of rare platinum, sparkling brilliantly under the warm chandelier light.
Chloe gasped, covering her mouth with both hands, her dark eyes wide with complete shock.
“Victor... what is this?” she breathed, her heart hammering wildly.
“To keep you and your brother permanently safe from Saleri, from the Commission, and from anyone else in this city who would ever try to hurt you,” Victor said, his deep voice thick with a raw, undeniable emotion, “I declared to every crime boss in America that you are my future wife.”
Chloe stared at the blinding diamond, then up into his handsome, hardened face.
“You... you lied to them?” she whispered.
“It doesn't have to be a lie, Chloe,” Victor said softly, stepping closer until his chest was gently touching hers. He reached out, his long, warm fingers gently taking her right hand into his.
“I haven't slept peacefully in five years,” Victor confessed, his slate-grey eyes locking onto hers with a fierce, burning intensity. “I haven't trusted a single human being since the night my brother died. But four nights ago, I walked into this room and found you asleep on my bed. And for the first time in my life... I felt peace.”
Chloe felt tears overflowing her eyelashes, running down her warm cheeks.
“I am just a maid, Victor,” she sobbed softly. “Your family... your men... they hate me. They think I’m taking advantage of you.”
“Let them think whatever they want,” Victor growled possessively, sliding the heavy diamond ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly against her skin.
He pulled her into his arms, his massive hands wrapping around her waist, lifting her slightly off her feet, pressing her soft body flush against his broad chest.
May you like
“No one in this city will ever make you feel small again, Chloe,” Victor murmured into her hair, his breath warm against her neck. “You are mine now. And I will burn Chicago to the ground before I ever let anyone hurt you.”
Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his chest, letting out a long sigh of pure, overwhelming surrender as she felt the true, unyielding safety of his embrace.
