Six Months Later
Autumnplacedoneroseon Catarina Casale's grave. Her finger traced the edge of the gray Italian marble, and then she glanced up at the angel looking down at them. The stone statue’s flowing hair seemed to freeze in time. Nico told her Casale and his wife had an artist create the angel in Catarina's image, which is why it was so beautiful and life-like.
The artist did an amazing job and did indeed make the stone look almost human.
"They're gone," she assured the angel. "They can't hurt anyone anymore."
The authorities discovered Elijah Winters’ body in the Hudson Bay. A fisherman found his head, followed by his corpse, chopped up into pieces in various black, heavy-duty bags. They found everything but his eyes. The police and the FBI, took the case and made their assumptions about who committed the murder. Was it The Big Three Mafiosi or someone else? All fingers pointed at Arturo Casale since he was the one with the motive to kill the Forget Me Not Killer. His daughter was dead and one of his business partner’s daughters was dead following the near death of his third partner’s daughter. Authorities couldn’t find any proof, since Casale had a solid alibi for when Winters was thought to be murdered.
So, the investigation went cold. Many authorities were grateful the Forget Me Not Killer was dead.
And New York City could release the breath they held when looking for the psychopath.
An inmate murdered Scarlett in prison. Nico knew who planned the murder and told Autumn when she found out on the news.
This time,La Vedova di Neradidn’t sign the order.
As soon as Arturo learned Scarlett Taylor was in prison, he sent an assassin to kill her. Authorities would never believe a woman could kill mercilessly and get away with it. They were still investigating the crime when David Taylor sued the New York prison system for not keeping his daughter safe.
Autumn didn’t lift a finger to help poor Uncle David. Scarlett got what was coming to her.
Autumn searched the empty eyes of the stone angel with its Mona Lisa smile. "You can rest in peace now, Catarina. It's over."
It was finally over for herself too, she thought.
She’d finally been able to learn about her past and her biological parents’ story. The trauma they went through to get her back from her uncle. The lies upon lies David always told her. It was all about money.
Her parents did what they thought was right.
Autumn’s relationship with her parents still had a long way to go, since the secret they kept from her still hurt her. It would take time for the wound to heal, but she would eventually forgive them.
And Nico was right by her side.
"Are you ready to see Ana?"
She half-turned to Nico. He kissed her hand that held the monstrosity of an engagement ring. Autumn refused to wear at first. But he had made sure she understood just how important it was to him that all the world knew she was his.
She’d never seen Nico Scala coming. He’d snuck into her heart unexpectedly.
Now she was glad he tore down the walls surrounding her heart.
"I love you."
He pulled her into him, so their foreheads touched. "You're one of the most courageous women I know, Miss Taylor."
"None of this would have happened without your help, Counselor Scala."
Nico tilted Autumn's lips to his. “If it wasn’t for Catarina’s death, I never would have met you.”
“Unfortunate as that was.” she kissed him back and then released her hold.
A couple of months after finding Elijah’s body, Autumn moved in with Nico. And then they both moved into the bungalow on Luna’s property. He’d left his uncle and The Big Three Mafiosi behind. He didn’t want to be involved in the man’s illegal enterprises.
He’d taken on Luna’s businesses as herconsigliereinstead.
Not that they were any less illegal.
Autumn stilled worked for Mitch as a criminal analyst. She’d told her boss she wouldn’t work on any organized crime cases since she had no interest in getting in Nico’s business. Her passions lay with catching monsters in the dark.
