Chapter 10 - Queen of the City
Six months later, the Castello estate was unrecognizable.
The dark, oppressive gloom that had once defined the sprawling mansion had been replaced by a quiet, commanding elegance. The armed guards still patrolled the perimeter, the black Maybachs still rolled silently through the iron gates at midnight, and the underworld still spoke of Victor Costello with reverent terror.
But inside the house, a new order reigned.
I stood on the wide stone balcony of the master suite, holding a cup of steaming espresso while watching the morning mist roll across the manicured lawns and private rose gardens. The platinum signet ring caught the pale sunlight, gleaming brightly against my finger—a permanent reminder of how far I had climbed from the cracked, bleeding hands of a desperate maid.
Footsteps echoed softly behind me on the hardwood floor, followed by the familiar warmth of strong arms wrapping around my waist, pulling me back against a broad, solid chest.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Costello," Victor murmured into my hair, his lips brushing softly against the nape of my neck.
I leaned back into his embrace, smiling as I looked out over the sprawling empire we now ruled together.
"I was just thinking," I said quietly, turning slightly in his arms to meet his stormy gray gaze, "that we need to audit the security protocols for the East River docks again."
May you like
Victor let out a rich, dark laugh, tightening his grip around me as he rested his chin on my shoulder.
"Consider it done," he whispered. "The city is ours, Sadi. Let them try to break us."
