Chapter 10 - THE SMILE OF THE DEVIL
Spring arrived in Lake Forest, melting the snow and painting the estate in vibrant shades of green, gold, and white blossom.
The dark, suffocating tomb had officially transformed into a place of life.
It was a quiet Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. The sun was rising over the horizon, casting warm, golden rays through the massive glass windows of Diamond’s master bedroom.
On the massive king-sized bed, Caprice lay fast asleep.
She was completely exhausted, not from scrubbing floors or drowning in medical bills, but from the long, beautiful night of lovemaking they had shared. She was wrapped in the crisp white silk sheets, her dark hair spread wildly across his pillows, her pale face completely peaceful, smooth, and devoid of a single shadow of worry.
Beside her, sitting up against the headboard, was Diamond Kelly.
He had transferred himself into his wheelchair an hour ago, but instead of rolling to his desk or checking his syndicate accounts, he had simply rolled his chair right up to the side of the bed.
He sat there in the quiet morning light, wearing a dark silk robe, his massive hand resting gently on the bed beside her head, his fingers softly playing with a strand of her silky hair.
He looked down at her face.
He thought about the night she had walked into his hallway with her bucket and mop, completely indifferent to his terror. He thought about her holding his hand in the storm, wrapping his wet feet in blankets, holding him through his tears in the dark, and giving him back his humanity when he thought he had lost it forever.
A sudden, warm sensation expanded deep inside his chest—a feeling so intense, so profound, that it made his lungs swell with air.
His lips twitched.
The hard, dark line of his mouth slowly softened.
And then, it happened.
A genuine, breathtaking, radiant smile spread across Diamond Kelly’s handsome face—a smile that reached all the way to his dark, expressive eyes, lighting up his features like the morning sun breaking through a storm.
It was a smile he hadn't worn in two agonizing years. A smile that proved the devil had finally been saved by the maid who refused to fear him.
Caprice stirred softly in her sleep. Her long eyelashes fluttered open, her gray eyes adjusting to the bright morning light.
She turned her head on the pillow and looked up at him.
She froze, taking in the sight of the legendary mob boss sitting beside her, his face illuminated by the golden sunlight, wearing a smile so breathtakingly beautiful it made her heart skip a beat.
"Good morning," she whispered softly, a matching smile breaking across her own face as she reached up to place her small hand over his jaw.
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"Good morning, my sweet girl," Diamond answered, his voice low, warm, and rich as velvet.
He leaned down, pressing a long, tender, loving kiss to her soft lips, wrapping his powerful arms around her as the morning light washed over them both, filling their home with absolute warmth, peace, and eternal love.
