Chapter 7 - A Change of Ledgers
Mia looked at the powerful, dangerous man sitting before her—a man who held the fate of Chicago’s underworld in his hands, yet looked at her as if she held his entire universe.
“I want my life back,” Mia said softly. “But not the old life. I don't want to hide behind spreadsheets in a dark basement office anymore.”
Gabriel’s brow arched with deep interest. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to run the Romano Foundation’s corporate oversight,” Mia said, her voice growing stronger, filled with the newfound confidence that had emerged from the fire of the past week. “I spent years watching dirty money flow through corporate channels. I want to build a system that protects innocent people from men like Sterling before they can ever do harm.”
Gabriel stared at her, a profound respect gleaming in his eyes. “You want to audit my entire empire?”
“I want to clean it,” Mia corrected with a faint, beautiful smile. “If I’m going to stay by your side, Gabriel, I need to know that the work we do protects people like Leo.”
Gabriel let out a soft, low laugh—a sound so rare and genuine that Mia’s chest thrilled to hear it.
“You want to reform a syndicate,” Gabriel murmured, standing up and stepping right up to her chair. He reached down, taking her hands in his, pulling her gently up to stand in front of him. “My lieutenants will be terrified of you.”
“They should be,” Mia replied, looking up into his dark eyes, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs as his strong hands rested on her waist. “I carry a miniature pick set in my boots.”
Gabriel’s grin faded into an expression of intense, raw devotion. “I love you, Mia Carver,” he said, the words falling into the quiet room with the weight of absolute truth. “I think I fell in love with you the second I saw you sitting on that couch, bruised and bloodied, holding my nephew like he was the only thing that mattered in the world.”
May you like
Mia gasped softly, tears pricking her eyes. She reached up, her hands resting against his jawline, feeling the light stubble beneath her fingers. “I love you too, Gabriel. I tried so hard not to... but I couldn't stop myself.”
Gabriel lowered his head, his lips warm and demanding as they met hers in a passionate, deep kiss that wiped away every lingering shadow of pain, fear, and violence from the past week. Mia wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself flush against his chest, surrendering completely to the safety and fire of his embrace.
