Chapter 6 - The New Empire
The double doors of the master suite were unlocked.
Gabriel threw them open, stepping into the room, his heart pounding harder than it had during the entire gunfight.
"Hannah!" he called out, his voice hoarse.
The room was dark.
From behind the heavy velvet sofa, a trembling hand emerged, holding the small silver revolver pointed directly at his chest.
"Gabriel?" Hannah's voice squeaked from the shadows.
"It's me," Gabriel said instantly, lowering his weapon and stepping into the soft light of the suite. "It's over. It's safe."
The revolver dropped to the carpet.
Hannah scrambled out from behind the sofa and threw herself into his arms with such force that Gabriel stumbled back a step. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his blood-stained lapel, sobbing hysterically against his chest.
"I heard the shooting," she wept, her fingers clutching his torn jacket tightly. "I thought... I thought you were dead..."
Gabriel wrapped his massive arms around her, pulling her flush against his body, holding her so tightly he could feel every ragged breath she took. He buried his face into the soft curve of her neck, inhaling the sweet, clean scent of her hair, feeling a wave of overwhelming relief wash through his soul.
"I promised you I'd come back," Gabriel whispered rasped into her hair. "I don't break my promises to you."
From the crib near the window, a soft "Gah!" sounded.
Hannah pulled back slightly, wiping her tears, a weak, beautiful smile breaking through her tear-streaked face.
Gabriel walked over to the crib, setting his weapon down on the nightstand. He reached down into the wooden frame and carefully lifted Maya into his arms.
The baby was unhurt, though her dark curls were messy and her cheeks were rosy. As soon as Gabriel lifted her, Maya reached out her small, soft hand and placed it directly against his cheek, ignoring the dark stain on his collar, smiling her two-toothed smile.
Gabriel looked down at the child, then looked at Hannah, who was standing beside him, her hazel eyes filled with a soft, radiant warmth that lit up the dark room.
The war was over. The Morello family had been shattered, Vance's rebellion had been crushed in twenty minutes, and Gabriel’s absolute authority over the city had been secured permanently.
But as he stood in the quiet master suite, holding the tiny child against his chest with the woman he loved by his side, Gabriel realized that the empire he had spent twenty years building meant nothing compared to the kingdom inside this room.
One Year Later
The afternoon sun blazed brightly over the rolling green hills of an estate in Upstate New York.
A massive stone manor sat surrounded by ancient oak trees, manicured gardens, and a high perimeter wall guarded quietly by discrete security detail.
On the wide back patio, a large wooden table was set for lunch with fresh flowers, chilled lemonade, and silver platters of food.
Gabriel Marlowe sat at the head of the table, wearing a simple white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked younger; the dark shadows beneath his eyes were gone, replaced by a calm, relaxed authority.
Next to him sat Hannah.
She wore a soft yellow summer dress, her brown hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. A diamond ring sparkled brightly on her left ring finger—a flawless, five-carat stone that Gabriel had placed there six months ago during a private ceremony overlooking the Hudson River.
And running across the lush grass in front of the patio was Maya.
Now twenty months old, she was walking—or rather, tumbling enthusiastically—on two sturdy legs, wearing a bright white sunhat and trailing a red toy wagon behind her.
"Maya, don't run too fast!" Hannah called out with a smile, leaning back against Gabriel's arm as he wrapped his hand over hers on the table.
Maya stopped near a bed of blue hydrangeas, turned around, and pointed her tiny finger toward the driveway.
A sleek black sedan had just pulled up the long gravel road, stopping near the patio.
Julian—Gabriel's newly appointed Underboss, a loyal and sharp young man who had replaced Vance—stepped out of the vehicle, holding a leather briefcase.
Julian walked onto the patio, bowing his head respectfully to Hannah first, then to Gabriel. "Mrs. Marlowe. Boss."
"Julian," Gabriel acknowledged, leaning back in his chair. "How are things in Manhattan?"
"Quiet," Julian reported with a subtle smile. "The Commission ratified the new boundaries without a single objection. The Morello remnants have completely disbanded. The docks are running twenty percent ahead of projections."
"Good," Gabriel said flatly.
Julian opened his briefcase and pulled out a single document. "There is one thing, Boss. Sal Carmine wants your signature on the final deed for the new distribution center in Brooklyn."
Gabriel reached for his pen, but before he could touch the paper, a small, sticky hand slapped down onto the middle of the document.
Maya had tumbled up the patio steps and was now standing by Gabriel's knee, staring intensely at Julian's leather briefcase.
Julian froze, looking down at the small child currently squishing the multi-million-dollar legal contract under her palm.
"Ah," Julian said cautiously, looking at Gabriel. "Should I... come back later?"
Hannah laughed softly, hiding her smile behind her lemonade glass.
Gabriel looked down at his daughter. He didn't pull the paper away. Instead, he scooped Maya up with one arm, setting her comfortably on his lap.
Maya immediately grabbed the silver pen from Gabriel's hand and began making wild, blue ink scribbles across the bottom of the legal deed.
Gabriel watched her for a moment, then looked up at Julian with a calm, deadpan expression.
"The contract is approved," Gabriel said smoothly. "My chief strategist has signed off on it."
Julian stared at the scribbled-on document, then at the most powerful mafia boss in New York holding a laughing toddler on his lap, and let out a quiet breath of laughter.
"Understood, Boss," Julian smiled, taking the paper back carefully. "I'll tell the Commission the deal is binding."
Julian bowed and walked back toward his car.
Gabriel set the pen down, wrapping both arms around Maya as she leaned her head against his chest, her thumb slipping into her mouth as she grew sleepy in the warm afternoon sun.
Hannah leaned over, pressing a soft kiss against Gabriel’s cheek, her hand resting over his on the armrest.
"You used to be a very serious man, Gabriel Marlowe," she teased softly, her hazel eyes shining with happiness.
May you like
Gabriel looked at his wife, then down at the sleeping child in his arms, feeling the deep, unbreakable peace that filled his home.
"I used to be a man with nothing to lose," Gabriel corrected softly, holding them both a little closer. "Now I'm a man who has everything."
