Chapter 9 - The Dawn of a New Sovereign
The sunrise over Beverly Hills was a beautiful, pale pink and gold, the warm California light clearing away the remnants of the coastal fog. Inside the private medical suite of the Rivas estate, the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor had finally settled into a steady, healthy cadence.
Emily opened her green eyes, the blue tint completely gone from her lips. She looked toward the side of the bed to find Damian sitting in the armchair. He hadn't slept in forty-eight hours, his face covered in a light stubble, his clothes still smelling faintly of salt water and iron.
"Damian?" she whispered, her voice weak but clear.
Damian stood up instantly, leaning over the bed to smooth her messy curls away from her forehead. "I'm here, Emily. The poison is gone. You’re safe."
"I saw my mom in the dark," Emily said, a soft smile touching her lips. "She told me that Tuesdays are still for sweet things. She said you did a good job."
Damian closed his eyes, a single, rare tear slipping down his hard cheek. He took her small hand in his, pressing his forehead against her knuckles. For twenty-five years, he had been a monster, a man feared by the entire city, a king built on a mountain of bodies and blood. But looking at this little girl, he realized that his true kingdom had nothing to do with the underworld.
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"From this day forward, Emily," Damian said, looking into her clear green eyes, "there is no more Rivas syndicate. The businesses are being sold to legitimate public trusts. The weapons are being destroyed. I am leaving the shadows behind. I’m just going to be your dad."
Emily’s smile widened, her small fingers wrapping tightly around his thumb. "I’d like that, Dad."
