Page 108 of Blood Vows

“No.” She looked at him. “But he lost.”

Dante leaned against the counter. “Yeah, but he’s breathing.”

“He lost the empire, his money, and he lost me.” Dante went quiet, and Elena set down her mug. “That was what he wanted most, Dante.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Control.” She stepped closer. “He wanted to decide who I was. Where I belonged. What happened to me.” Her hands settled on his chest. “He doesn’t get to anymore.”

Dante looked down at her. “No, he doesn’t.”

“And neither does anyone else.”

He narrowed his eyes. “That sounds like it’s directed at me.”

“It is,” she said.

He sighed. “Thought so.”

She smiled, but then grew serious. “I chose you.” His chest tightened. He still wasn’t used to hearing that; maybe he never would be. Elena lifted onto her toes. “So stop acting like you stole me.”

Dante touched her waist. “I didn’t?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Could've fooled me,” he said.

“I walked into your house willingly,” she insisted.

“Eventually,” he teased.

“I slept in your bed willingly.”

His mouth curved. “Repeatedly.”

“Don’t ruin the moment,” she chided.

“Sorry.”

She blinked up at him. “That was almost sincere.” He gasped, and Elena laughed, and then kissed him. Dante wrapped his arms around her. He finally understood what the word home meant. It wasn’t a house or a family name. It wasn’t about loyalty that had been purchased with blood. It was her—Elena was his home now.

Six months later, Dante stood in a cemetery with Elena’s hand in his. Antonio Romano’s grave had fresh flowers on it. Elena placed another bouquet beside them. For a long time, she said nothing, and Dante stayed silent. This was for her, and he’d give her as much time as she needed.

Finally, she crouched. “Crimson Holdings is gone,” she said to her father’s headstone. Dante looked away because the conversation felt too private to watch. Elena continued. “The foundation is approved.” She paused. “We named it after you.”

Dante’s throat tightened. The Antonio Romano Foundation would help families escape organized crime, provide financial assistance, and fund legal representation. Elena had turned eighty million dollars of blood money into something useful. Dante thought Antonio would have appreciated the irony.

“She’s driving me crazy, by the way,” Elena said.

Dante looked at her. “Who is?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Isabella.” He almost laughed. “She says my dad would want to know.” Elena looked back toward the grave. “And Dante is worse.”

“Hey,” he grumbled.

She ignored him. “He thinks I need an armed escort to go grocery shopping.”

“You do,” he insisted.