Chapter 9 - The Choice
Dominic spent 19 days in federal custody.
Norah visited every day she was permitted.
The newspapers called her everything.
Gold digger.
Mafia mistress.
Mystery mother.
The Billion-Dollar Waitress.
She stopped reading after day 3.
Dominic’s lawyers could have fought aggressively.
Instead, he cooperated.
Records.
Accounts.
Names.
Properties.
Every dirty secret inherited from previous generations was turned over.
Rossy Holdings lost almost 40 percent of its value.
Three directors resigned.
Politicians denied knowing him.
People who had begged Dominic for invitations suddenly claimed they had never met.
Norah watched an empire discover that loyalty had always been rented.
Then came the hearing.
The prosecution acknowledged Dominic’s cooperation and the evidence establishing Vittorio’s operation.
Several investigations remained open, but Dominic was released pending further proceedings.
When he walked outside, hundreds of cameras waited.
Norah stood behind the barricade.
Dominic ignored every reporter.
He walked directly to her.
“You came.”
“Obviously.”
“I have significantly less money now.”
“How tragic.”
“Possibly only several billion.”
“I'll start a fundraiser.”
He laughed.
Cameras captured it.
The photograph went everywhere.
But their real life became quieter.
Dominic sold the estate where Norah had collapsed.
Too many ghosts.
He moved into a townhouse overlooking the Hudson.
Norah refused to move in.
For 11 days.
Then her apartment ceiling leaked directly onto her bed.
Dominic said nothing when she arrived with 3 suitcases.
That restraint lasted 4 minutes.
“You moved in.”
“Temporarily.”
“Of course.”
“Don't look pleased.”
“I would never.”
He looked unbearably pleased.
Their relationship developed awkwardly.
Slowly.
Dominic had spent years commanding people.
Norah had spent years refusing to be commanded.
They argued about security.
Food.
Work.
Whether Dominic was allowed to purchase the catering company after discovering Norah’s manager had withheld overtime pay.
He was not.
He did anyway.
Norah made him sell it back to the employees for $1.
He did.
That surprised everyone.
Especially him.
At 22 weeks, they learned the baby was a girl.
Dominic stared at the ultrasound monitor as though someone had revealed the meaning of the universe.
“A daughter,” he whispered.
Norah watched him.
“Terrifying, isn't it?”
“Completely.”
Julian eventually accepted a plea agreement in exchange for testimony against Vittorio.
He would serve time.
But not forever.
His first letter to Dominic contained only 6 words.
Don't name the kid after me.
Dominic framed it.
Then came Eileen Gallagher’s final gift.
Investigators decrypted the remainder of her files.
The legendary ledger everyone had hunted was never financial evidence.
It was a trust document.
Years earlier, Alessandro had secretly placed millions into a foundation under Eileen’s supervision.
The money was intended for families harmed by Rossy operations.
Eileen had spent years quietly distributing it.
Dominic finished what she started.
He created the Gallagher Foundation.
Norah cried when she saw her mother’s name on the building.
“You did this?”
“No.”
Dominic stood behind her.
“Your mother did.”
For once, Norah had no sarcastic response.
She turned and kissed him.
Then froze.
Dominic looked confused.
“What?”
Norah grabbed his hand.
Placed it against her stomach.
A tiny movement pressed beneath his palm.
Dominic stopped breathing.
Again.
The feared man who had survived bullets, betrayal and prison looked utterly defenseless.
“She kicked.”
Norah smiled.
“She does that.”
His eyes lifted.
“You've felt this before?”
“Many times.”
“And you didn't tell me?”
“You were negotiating with federal prosecutors.”
“This was more important.”
Something inside Norah broke open.
Not painfully.
Like a locked door finally giving way.
She had spent months wondering whether Dominic loved their unborn child because of blood, legacy, or the empire attached to her existence.
Now she knew.
The empire could disappear tomorrow.
He would still kneel on the floor for one tiny kick.
That evening Dominic took Norah to the rooftop.
No guards nearby.
No lawyers.
No cameras.
Just Manhattan glowing beneath them.
He reached into his pocket.
Norah immediately pointed at him.
“Don't.”
Dominic paused.
“Don't what?”
“If that is a diamond the size of a golf ball, I’m throwing it into the Hudson.”
Slowly, Dominic opened the box.
Inside was a small antique ring.
Norah recognized it.
Her mother’s.
She stopped breathing.
“How?”
“Your father kept it after she died. Liam found it among belongings stored with your aunt.”
Norah touched it.
Dominic did not kneel.
He knew her better than that now.
“I don't want you because you're carrying my child.”
His voice was quiet.
“I don't want you because somebody wrote your name into a trust.”
He took her hand.
“I want the woman who argued with me 3 minutes after waking unconscious in my bed.”
Norah laughed through tears.
“I want the woman who walked into a hostage exchange because she decided my plan was stupid.”
“It was stupid.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“I love you, Norah Gallagher.”
Her heart hammered.
“Marry me.”
She looked at the ring.
Then at him.
“Yes.”
Dominic exhaled.
Norah narrowed her eyes.
“But.”
His face fell.
“There’s a but?”
“One condition.”
“Anything.”
“No 500-person wedding.”
“Done.”
“No politicians.”
“Gladly.”
“No champagne towers.”
“Fine.”
“And absolutely no catering staff working 12-hour shifts.”
Dominic smiled.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
She pulled him closer.
“Stop looking at me like I'm going to disappear.”
His smile vanished.
Because that one hurt.
Norah touched his face.
“I’m staying.”
Dominic kissed her forehead.
May you like
Below them, Manhattan continued roaring.
And for the first time, Dominic Rossy believed her.
