"Yes, I'll marry you." I shifted in the tub, water sloshing over the sides as I turned to face him fully. "But on one condition."
"Name it."
"We burn it all down," I said, my voice steady with newfound purpose. "The trafficking, the drugs, all of it. We rebuild the Azzaro empire into something different. Something better."
Understanding dawned in his eyes. "A legitimate business."
"With illegitimate methods, when necessary," I clarified, feeling more like myself. "I'm not naïve. But we set new boundaries. New rules."
He nodded slowly, considering my words. "It won't be easy. There will be resistance."
"I'm counting on it." I felt my lips curl into that slow, dangerous smile—the one that said I wasn’t just playing dress-up with my dad in this world of monsters anymore. "I rather enjoy making examples of those who resist. It's not like the Vispania family hasn’t done the same."
Gavriel laughed, the sound echoing off the bathroom tiles. "God, I love you." He pulled me closer, his lips finding mine in a kiss that tasted of blood and promise. "My beautiful, ruthless Goddess."
When we broke apart, I rested back against him. "We need to call Rhea. Let her know it's done."
"Okay. Once we are done in here," he said, his hands sliding down my wet back. "We’ll tell her that we will come get her in the morning. Tonight belongs to us."
The water had cooled, the blood washed away from us, and Gavriel had drained and refilled the tub with warm water, but I felt no desire to leave the sanctuary of his arms. Tomorrow would bring new challenges—consolidating power, making alliances, reshaping an empire. But tonight, in this moment, there was only us.
"My pretty boy," I murmured against his lips. "My Don."
"My Goddess," he returned. "My queen."
As his mouth claimed mine once more, I surrendered to the certainty that whatever came next, we would face it together—bound not just by blood and power, but by something far stronger, far more dangerous.
Love.
And God help anyone who stood in our way.
Chapter 48
Iwoketothesound of footsteps in the hallway outside my door, voices murmuring in hushed tones. The reality of my new position crashed over me like a cold wave. I was Don Azzaro now, with all the responsibilities and dangers that title carried.
Elin stirred beside me, her blonde hair fanned across the pillow, face peaceful in sleep. For a moment, I allowed myself to simply watch her, memorizing the curve of her shoulder, the way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks. After today, moments like this would be rare.
A soft knock interrupted my reverie. "Don Azzaro?" Harley's voice, respectful but urgent.
"Give me five minutes," I called back, already slipping from the bed.
Elin's eyes opened, immediately alert. "Time to face the music?"
"Time to claim what's mine." I pulled on yesterday's clothes, the fabric still carrying traces of blood. It was a power play. I would show I wasn’t afraid to have my father’s blood on me. "Stay here. Rest."
Her eyebrow arched dangerously. "I don't think so, Pretty Boy. We're partners now, remember?"
Before I could argue, she was already moving, but she froze and turned to me. “I need clothes. Do you have a shirt I can borrow? I don’t know what to do about pants.”
I chuckled. Little did she know, I had long planned for this. “The wardrobe.”
She blinked and nodded before turning toward it. When she opened the door, she turned back to me with a shocked look on her face. “Gavriel?”
“What? It was just a matter of time before you spent the night at the compound. I wanted to make sure you had something to change into in the morning.”
“When?” She ran her fingers over some of the designer sweaters that hung color coordinated beside dress shirts on the rack.
“About a month ago.”
