Chapter 18 - AFTER THE BLOOD
Three months later, the city was different.
The Kelly organization had changed.
Diamond had surrendered several businesses.
Closed illegal operations.
Moved the empire toward legitimate ventures.
Levi thought he had gone insane.
Caprice thought he had finally grown up.
Diamond didn't care what anyone called it.
He wanted a future.
Not just survival.
One evening, Caprice returned home from the hospital where she visited her mother.
Diamond was waiting.
"You took too long."
"Traffic."
"You could have called."
She smiled.
"You missed me."
"I did."
She sat beside him.
Then noticed a box.
"What is that?"
"Open it."
Inside was a ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Caprice stared.
"Diamond."
"I know it's not a normal proposal."
She laughed.
"Nothing about us is normal."
He took her hand.
"I can't promise safety."
"I know."
"I can't promise peace."
"I know."
"I can't promise I'll stop being difficult."
She smiled.
"I definitely know."
Diamond looked into her eyes.
"But I can promise this."
He squeezed her hand.
"I will never make you wonder where you stand with me."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Will you marry me?"
Caprice looked at the ring.
Then at him.
"Yes."
Diamond smiled.
A real smile.
May you like
The same smile she had first seen when she fell asleep beside him.
Only now it belonged to her.
