Chapter 10 - The Life We Chose
One year later.
The coastline of Big Sur, California, stretched out in dramatic cliffs and deep blue waves beneath a clear, endless sky.
Nestled on a quiet bluff surrounded by tall redwoods stood a modern timber and stone house.
There were no iron gates here.
There were no armed guards with Dobermans, no armored cars, and no dark shadows lingering in the hallways.
Norah sat on the wooden porch, wearing a comfortable oversized sweater, working on a laptop.
She was no longer auditing mob ledgers.
She had opened her own independent forensic accounting firm, helping non profit organizations and small businesses track lost assets and recover from financial fraud.
From the kitchen, the aroma of roasting garlic, fresh basil, and simmering tomatoes drifted out into the afternoon air.
Dominic stepped onto the porch carrying two glasses of white wine.
He wore a simple black linen shirt and jeans, his dark hair slightly windswept, looking happier, healthier, and younger than he ever had.
He walked over, placing a glass on the small table beside her, before bending down to press a warm kiss onto the top of her head.
"How is the charity audit going?" he asked, sitting on the wooden bench beside her and pulling her into his side.
"We recovered fifty thousand dollars for the local animal shelter this morning," Norah said proudly, resting her head against his shoulder.
Dominic chuckled, his arm tightening around her. "My brilliant auditor."
He reached down, his large hand gently resting over her abdomen, where a small, soft bump was just beginning to show beneath her sweater.
Norah placed her hand over his, her fingers intertwining with his scar calloused fingers.
She looked out over the Pacific Ocean, feeling the cool sea breeze on her face, listening to the soothing rhythm of the crashing waves.
She thought back to that dark Tuesday night at the Cobalt Lounge—the blood on the carpet, the terrifying man in the tailored suit, and her own desperate confession that she was twenty eight, untouched, and completely alone in the world.
She had thought her life was ending in that cold back office.
Instead, it had been the moment her real life began.
"What are you thinking about?" Dominic asked softly, kissing her temple.
Norah smiled, turning her head to look into the deep, dark eyes of the man who had torn down an entire underworld just to keep her safe.
"I'm thinking about how lucky I am," Norah whispered softly.
May you like
Dominic leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a slow, sweet kiss that carried all the love, peace, and promises of the quiet life they had built together.
"Not luck, my love," Dominic murmured against her lips. "Just perfect math."
