Chapter 7 - THE LAST MOVE OF GIDEON COSTA
Costa knew he was losing.
His men were disappearing.
His money was drying up.
His access to the docks had been destroyed.
And Diamond Kelly was still alive.
Worse—
Diamond was no longer alone.
Costa had underestimated Caprice.
That mistake would cost him.
He ordered one final attack.
Not against Diamond.
Against Caprice's mother.
If he couldn't destroy the king, he would destroy the king's reason to live.
But Diamond had already anticipated it.
Two cars followed Caprice's mother's transport.
Four guards watched the facility.
Every entrance was monitored.
Costa's men arrived at noon.
They never got inside.
Levi intercepted them.
The attack ended before Caprice even knew it had started.
When Diamond told her, she closed her eyes.
"You knew."
"Yes."
"You didn't tell me."
"I didn't want you afraid."
She looked at him.
"I was already afraid."
Diamond reached for her.
She stepped closer.
"I need you to understand something."
He waited.
"If you're going to love me, don't protect me by lying."
The word hung between them.
Love.
Neither had said it before.
Diamond's expression changed.
Caprice realized what she had done.
"You heard me."
"I did."
She looked away.
"I didn't mean—"
Diamond caught her hand.
"Say it again."
Her eyes met his.
"I love you."
His throat tightened.
For a man who had commanded thousands, Diamond Kelly suddenly had no idea what to say.
So he told the truth.
"I love you too."
That evening, Diamond sat beside the window.
Caprice stood behind him.
"You know," she said, "you still haven't smiled today."
He turned.
"Maybe I'm tired."
"You smiled when I fell asleep."
Diamond froze.
"You remember?"
"I woke up once."
She smiled.
"You looked ridiculous."
"I was being emotional."
"You were staring at me."
"I was making sure you were alive."
"Sure."
He rolled his eyes.
She laughed.
And Diamond smiled.
This time, he didn't hide it.
For the first time since the bullet, he realized something.
He didn't want his old life back.
Not completely.
Because his old life had never contained her.
Costa was found the following morning.
Dead.
Levi gave Diamond no details.
Diamond didn't ask.
The empire had survived.
The threat was gone.
But Diamond knew something else.
Enemies would always come.
There would always be another Costa.
Another man who wanted his territory.
Another bullet.
Another war.
He looked at Caprice.
She was standing by the window, sunlight on her face.
She looked peaceful.
Diamond made a decision.
If he couldn't remove danger from her life, he could at least give her a way out.
May you like
A real one.
Even if it meant losing her.
