Chapter 10 - The Queen of the North Side
Midnight at the Castelli estate.
The grand wedding reception had finally ended. The fireworks over Lake Michigan had cleared, leaving a quiet, starlit night over the quiet fortress.
Inside the master suite of the east wing—the very room where Harper had woken up three months ago—the fireplace crackled with a warm, inviting glow.
Harper stood by the grand floor-to-ceiling windows, wearing a silk white robe, holding a glass of champagne, staring out at the dark lake.
Behind her, footsteps sounded softly against the hardwood floor.
Dominic wrapped his massive arms around her waist, pulling her back against his broad chest. His hands rested over her stomach, his chin resting gently on her shoulder.
The black serpent tattoo curled around his forearm, contrasting beautifully with the sparkling diamond wedding ring on her finger.
“What are you thinking about, Mrs. Castelli?” Dominic murmured into her ear, his lips brushing her skin, sending a warm shiver through her body.
Harper smiled, leaning her head back against his shoulder.
“I was thinking about Brenda,” Harper said with a soft chuckle. “And how she told me to inventory linens in the east wing.”
Dominic let out a low, rumbling laugh. “I should send Brenda a thank-you check. She gave me the greatest treasure in Chicago.”
He turned her around in his arms, looking down into her eyes with pure, unadulterated devotion.
“Are you afraid of anything, Harper?” Dominic asked softly. “Of this life? Of being the wife of the most feared man in the city?”
Harper reached up, her soft fingers tracing the line of his jaw, resting over the old scar on his cheek.
“I’m not afraid of anything, Dominic,” she whispered, her eyes shining with complete trust and fierce love. “Because the most feared man in Chicago belongs to me.”
May you like
Dominic smiled—a genuine, radiant smile that completely transformed his harsh features—and lifted her into his arms, carrying her toward the grand four-poster bed.
Outside, the cool wind swept over Lake Michigan, but inside the fortress, there was only warmth, light, and a love that had conquered the dark.
