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The next three months passed in a blur of meetings, negotiations, and calculated strikes. Marco and I worked together seamlessly, dismantling our enemies piece by piece.
The Kabbaro family fell first. Shanya’s carefully laid plans crumbled when we exposed her double–dealing
to Antonio. The Riccis, already weakened by internal strife, couldn’t withstand the pressure. Their territory split between smaller families who pledged loyalty to us.
I sat in Marco’s office one evening, reviewing reports of Alexander’s latest business failure. His company stock had plummeted after key investors pulled out – investors who, coincidentally, had strong ties to the Vercetti family.
“Third quarter in the red,” I said, sliding the financial report across Marco’s desk. “He’s finished.”
Marco’s smile was sharp. “Karma’s a fascinating thing, isn’t it?”
News of Vincent’s death reached us on a rainy Tuesday. He’d tried breaking out of the warehouse where Marco had confined him, taking down two guards before catching a bullet. A fitting end for a man who’d lived by violence.
“It’s done,” Marco said, hanging up his phone. “Vincent won’t be troubling anyone anymore”
I walked to the window, watching rain streak down the glass. “Sometimes I can’t believe how much has changed. Three months ago…
“Three months ago, you made me the happiest man alive.” Marco’s arms wrapped around my waist. “Everything else is just business.”
The city stretched out below us, its lights blurred by rain. Our city now, reshaped by our vision. The old guard
better. had fallen, making way for something new. Something
ng reason.”
“The families are falling in line,” I said. “Even the holdouts are seeing
“They know which way the wind’s blowing.” Marco pressed a kiss to my neck. “And they know we’re stronger
together.”
I leaned back against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
I turned in Marco’s arms, facing him. “You know, there’s still one thing we never got to finish.”
“What’s that?” His eyes held that familiar mix of tenderness and steel.
“Our first dance. Vincent made sure of that.” The memory of gunfire and chaos at our wedding flashed through
my mind, but it felt distant now – like watching a movie of someone else’s life.
A slow smile spread across Marco’s face. “Ah. I was wondering when you’d bring that up.”
“You promised me a proper dance once everything was settled.” I traced a finger along his jawline. “Well, everything’s settled ”
Marco caught my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Follow me.”
He led me through the corridors of our home, past the study where we’d planned our takeover, past the rooms
where we’d negotiated alliances and delivered ultimatums. The house felt different now – peaceful.
We stopped at the double doors leading to our ballroom. Marco paused, his hand on the handle.
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment.” His voice was soft. “Close your eyes.”
I did. The doors opened, and Marco guided me forward. The air changed – warmer, filled with something that
made my skin tingle.
“Open them.”
Fie jen me inrough the comigors of our nome, past the study where we a planned our takeover, past the rooms where we’ll negotiated alliances and delivered ultimatums The house felt different now–peaceful.
We stopped at the double doors leading to our ballroom Marco paused, his hand on the handle.
I’ve been waiting for the right moment “His voice was soft “Close your eyes”
I did. The doors opened, and Marco guided me forward. The air changed–warmer, filled with something that made my skin tingle
“Open them”
The ballroom had transformed Hundreds of candles lined the walls and windowsills, their flames dancing in perfect stillness. The hardwood floor gleamed like honey in the warm light Above, the crystal chandelier caught and multiplied each tiny flame into thousands of stars
Marco stepped in front of me, extending his hand “May I have this dance, Mrs. Vercetti?
“You planned this ”
“I made you a promise “Music began to play the same song we’d chosen for our wedding “And I always keep my promises”
I placed my hand in Marco’s, and he pulled me close. The music wrapped around us as we began to move across the floor, our steps falling into perfect sync. His hand was warm against my back, steady and sure, just as he’d been since the day I chose him
“Who would have thought,” I whispered, “that the ‘Lion‘ would become my everything?”
Marco’s eyes sparkled in the candlelight “I knew from the moment I saw you that you were meant to be my
queen”
We turned, and the candlelight caught his ring–matching the one on my finger. Both bore the Vercetti crest, now a symbol not just of power, but of the love that had transformed both our lives.
“The Lion and his Queen,” I said, remembering all the headlines that had run when we’d finally gone public with our marriage. “They were right about one thing we did change everything”
“We did more than that.” Marco dipped me low, then brought me back up in one fluid motion. “We built something new. Something better.”
The music swelled, and I rested my head against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. Here, in his arms, I wasn’t just Isabella Romano, the girl who’d once been lost between two worlds. I wasn’t just the wife of the most powerful man in the city. I was his equal, his partner, his queen.
“I love you,” Marco murmured against my hair. “My beautiful, fierce queen.”
We danced until the candles burned low, wrapped in our own world of shadow and light. Everything we’d fought for, everything we’d built it had led us here. To this moment. To this dance we’d waited so long to share.
The Lion had chosen his Queen, and together we’d rewritten the rules of our world.
Not through fear or brutality, but through strength, honor, and love.
THE END
