Chapter 10 - The Horizon
Two weeks later, the snow had finally melted from the lawn of the Rossi estate, leaving behind the first, green shoots of spring.
Beatrice stood on the stone terrace that looked out over Lake Michigan, her splinted hand gone, replaced by a simple black wrist brace that allowed her to move her fingers with relative ease. The scar on her cheek had healed into a thin, silver line, a mark of honor she no longer felt the need to hide behind her hair.
She was wearing a beautiful, dark green wool coat—a gift from Leo—and her hair was pulled back in a neat, stylish braid.
Beside her, Lily was sitting on a stone bench, her grandfather's brass compass resting in her lap, her small fingers tracing the silver key on the Rossi crest.
"The needle is pointing north, Bee," Lily said, looking up with a bright, happy smile. "That means we’re going the right way."
"We are, sweetie," Beatrice said, her hand gently resting on her shoulder. "We’re going exactly where we need to be."
The glass doors of the terrace opened, and Leo walked out. He was wearing his black sweater and dark trousers, his face carrying a relaxed, peaceful expression that Beatrice had grown to love over the past two weeks.
The Kensington war had ended before it could truly begin. Once Joseph Kensington had seen the security footage of his daughter’s actions and the body of his personal hitman, he had signed a peace treaty that turned over half his Detroit shipping lanes to the Rossi family in exchange for his daughter’s life. Victoria was gone, sent to a remote convent in upstate New York where her last name could no longer buy her way out of her sins.
Leo walked over to the bench, sitting down beside his daughter and wrapping his arm around Beatrice’s waist, pulling her close against his side.
"The boats are coming in," Leo said, pointing to the horizon where the first of the massive cargo ships was cutting through the grey water of the lake. "They’re carrying the first shipment of Italian marble for the new terminal."
"It's beautiful, Leo," Beatrice said, her head resting against his shoulder.
"It is," he said, his hand gently squeezing her waist. "But not as beautiful as the woman who keeps this family together."
He looked down at his daughter, then up at Beatrice, his dark eyes reflecting the warm, golden light of the afternoon sun.
"We’re going to be okay, Bee," he said, his voice carrying the full, unyielding promise of a father’s love. "We have our compass. And we have each other."
Beatrice looked out over the restless, beautiful expanse of the lake, her heart feeling fuller and lighter than it ever had in her life. She was no longer the maid who called the mafia boss.
May you like
She was the woman who had saved his world.
And she was finally home.
