Chapter 9 - Healing the Scars
Three weeks after the battle at Pier 4, the city of New York was entirely quiet.
The Luciano crime family had collapsed overnight, their assets absorbed by the Ashworth syndicate. Corbin Vance’s body was never recovered from the river, permanently closing the chapter on Briar’s painful past.
Inside the penthouse, the morning sun poured through the high windows, warming the soft white rugs.
Briar sat on the plush sofa, wearing one of Damien’s oversized grey cashmere sweaters. On the coffee table in front of her lay architectural blueprints for the new Julian & Briar Lennox Animal Sanctuary—a fifty-acre state-of-the-art rescue facility being built in upstate New York, fully funded by Damien.
Damien stepped out of his study, wearing a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He carried two mugs of coffee, handing one to Briar before sitting down beside her.
Titan trotted over, resting his broad head directly on Damien’s knee, letting out a satisfied groan.
"The board approved the final transfer today," Damien murmured, wrapping his arm around Briar’s shoulders and pulling her against his chest. "All my shipping routes and legitimate holdings have been officially separated from the underground business. I am stepping back, Briar. Viktor is taking over field operations."
Briar looked up at him, surprised and touched. "You're walking away from the syndicate?"
"I built that empire to avenge my brother," Damien said softly, kissing her temple gently. "But you and Titan taught me something else. You taught me how to live again. I don't want a kingdom built on blood anymore, Briar. I just want a home with you."
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Briar felt tears of pure happiness welling in her eyes. She leaned up and kissed his lips softly, feeling the deep, unbreakable promise in his touch.
"You already gave me a home, Damien," she whispered against his mouth.
