Chapter 9 – THE SECOND TICKET TO NOWHERE

That evening, the house felt like a tomb.

Sophie was sitting in the living room, crying quietly into her new stuffed animal. Harper had packed her bags and was putting them by the front door.

Dante stood in his study, staring out the window at the setting sun.

He was letting her go. Because he loved her enough to let her be safe.

The door to the study opened.

Harper walked in. She was wearing her coat, her eyes red from crying.

“My taxi is here,” she said softly.

Dante turned around.

“I transferred five million dollars to your mother’s account,” Dante said. His voice was completely professional, hiding the agony underneath. “It’s untraceable. You’ll never have to worry about money again.”

“I didn’t do it for the money, Dante.”

“I know.”

He walked over to his desk.

He picked up a small velvet box.

He walked across the room and stood in front of her.

“Before you go,” Dante said, “I want you to have this.”

He opened the box.

Inside rested a stunning, vintage sapphire necklace.

Harper gasped. “Dante, I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”

“It’s not a gift,” Dante said quietly. “It belonged to my mother. She told me to give it to the woman who would finally make this house a home.”

He looked into her eyes.

“You made this house a home, Harper. Even if it was only for two years.”

Harper stared at the necklace.

Then she looked up at the man standing in front of her.

The ruthless mafia boss who had torn apart a city to save her mother. The gentle father who sat on the floor coloring with his daughter.

“Dante,” she whispered.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said, stepping back. “Have a safe flight, Harper.”

He turned around, unable to watch her walk out the door.

He heard her footsteps move toward the exit.

He heard the heavy oak door open.

And then, he heard it close.

Dante closed his eyes, bracing himself for the silence.

“Dante.”

He spun around.

Harper was still standing in the study. She had dropped her bags on the floor.

She walked toward him, reached up, and grabbed the lapels of his shirt.

“I don’t want a normal life,” she said fiercely.

Before he could process the words, she pulled him down and kissed him.

Dante wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground, kissing her back with all the desperation and love he had been holding in for months.

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