Chapter 9 - The Woman He Chose
The threat came three weeks later.
A bomb destroyed one of Nicholas's warehouses.
No one died.
But the message was clear.
Volkov was back.
Nicholas wanted Khloe to leave the city.
She refused.
“You're not sending me away.”
“I am trying to protect you.”
“You've been saying that since we met.”
“Because it remains true.”
She stepped closer.
“I don't need you to hide me.”
“I know.”
“Then let me stand beside you.”
Nicholas looked at her.
For years, he had believed love was weakness.
Khloe had taught him otherwise.
He reached into his pocket.
Then lowered himself onto one knee.
Khloe stared.
Nicholas held out a small black box.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“This isn't a political alliance,” he said.
“I know.”
“This isn't about the Rossi name.”
“I know.”
“I love you.”
She smiled through tears.
“That's a dangerous thing to say to a woman like me.”
“I've survived worse.”
She laughed.
Then opened the box.
Inside was a simple ring.
No enormous diamond.
No family crest.
Just a beautiful band of white gold.
Khloe looked at him.
“Yes.”
Nicholas smiled.
Then stood.
They kissed.
For the first time, there was no bloodshed.
No gunfire.
No secrets.
Only two people who had survived enough darkness to recognize peace when they found it.
Their wedding took place months later.
Small.
Private.
Only close friends.
Julian stood beside Khloe.
Enzo stood beside Nicholas.
The ceremony was held overlooking the ocean.
When Khloe walked toward Nicholas, he looked at her as though the entire world had disappeared.
“You came,” he whispered.
She smiled.
“You asked.”
They married at sunset.
For one night, everything was quiet.
But after the ceremony, Khloe found an envelope outside her room.
Inside was another photograph.
This one showed her father.
Alive.
Not twenty years earlier.
Recently.
On the back were six words.
Your father never died in Sicily.
Khloe couldn't breathe.
Nicholas found her minutes later.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
“Khloe…”
She stared toward the ocean.
“If he's alive…”
“Then someone has been hiding him.”
“And if he was behind all of this?”
Nicholas looked at her.
“Then we find out.”
She nodded.
The honeymoon would have to wait.
May you like
Because their story wasn't finished.
It was only changing.
