Chapter 7 - A Mother's Strength
The proposal was a masterpiece of legal and political maneuver, but it brought a new wave of anxiety into my heart.
That evening, after Victoria had left, I found Elias sitting on the terrace balcony, watching the city lights glitter in the crisp night air. He held a glass of scotch, his collar unbuttoned, looking thoughtful.
I stepped out onto the cold stone, wrapping a thick wool shawl around my shoulders.
"You're thinking about the offer," I said quietly, leaning against the railing beside him.
Elias took a slow sip of his drink. "It’s a good deal, Ava. It cements my position in New York, ends a twenty-year blood feud, and guarantees that Maya and Lily will never have to worry about money, education, or safety for the rest of their lives."
"And what about us?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
Elias turned his head, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "What do you mean?"
My cheeks flushed red, but I refused to look away. "You saved us because you saw a dying woman under a bridge. You protected us because you have a code of honor. But now... the war is over. Julian is going to prison for life. The Cross family is offering a peace treaty. You don't have to carry us anymore, Elias. Is this just a business transaction to you?"
Elias set his glass down on the stone ledge with a sharp clink. He turned his whole body toward me, stepping closer until his heat washed over me, blocking out the biting winter wind.
"A business transaction?" Elias repeated, his voice dropping into a dangerous, dark purr. "Ava, do you have any idea what you've done to this house over the last month?"
I blinked, confused. "What I've done?"
"For ten years, this penthouse was a tomb," Elias said, his hand rising to gently frame the side of my face, his thumb tracing my lower lip. "It was a place where I counted money, cleaned weapons, and slept with one eye open. You brought light into it. You brought the sound of children laughing, the smell of real food, the feeling of a home."
His eyes softened, showing a vulnerability that terrified me with its intensity.
"I didn't step between you and Julian's bullets because of a code, Ava," Elias admitted softly. "I did it because from the moment I pulled you out of the snow and saw the fire in your eyes, I knew I would burn the entire world down before I let anyone hurt you again."
My heart leaped into my throat. The cold air around us seemed to melt away.
"Elias..." I whispered.
"I’m a dangerous man, Ava," he continued, his hand drifting down to rest gently on the side of my neck, feeling my racing pulse. "My life is filled with shadows. But if you'll have me... I don't want to be your savior anymore. I want to be your husband. I want to be a father to Maya and Lily. Not because of a trust fund, but because I love you."
May you like
Tears sprang to my eyes—not tears of pain or fear, but of pure, overwhelming joy. I reached up, grabbing his lapels, and pulled his head down to mine.
When our lips met, it wasn't a gentle kiss. It was deep, possessive, and full of a passion that had been building between us through blood, storm, and fire. Elias groaned softly, his arms wrapping around my waist, pulling me lift-high against his chest as he kissed me back with everything he had.
