Chapter 15 - The Vow of Thunder
Two days later,
the storm had cleared,
leaving behind a crisp,
clear blue sky over the Westchester hills.
Dominic stood on the grand balcony of his private suite,
his side wrapped tightly in medical bandages beneath a crisp white linen shirt.
Beside him stood Ruby,
looking out over the lush green estate grounds.
Below in the courtyard,
the entire Vale syndicate was assembled—over fifty senior captains,
enforcers,
and logistics managers.
Marcus stood at the front of the line,
looking up at the balcony with quiet respect.
The betrayer Vincent had been removed,
Don Vance's hit squad had been destroyed,
and news of Ruby's bravery had spread through every corner of the syndicate.
Dominic looked down at his men,
then turned to face Ruby.
He didn't speak in whispers today.
He didn't hide behind cold silence anymore.
Dominic took Ruby's hand and led her to the front edge of the balcony,
overlooking the entire gathered court.
"Listen to me!" Dominic's voice boomed across the courtyard,
carrying immense authority and strength.
"For ten years,
I ruled this empire in silence because I thought quiet was power!"
"I was wrong!"
"Silence is just fear waiting for an owner!"
The assembled men listened intently,
no one daring to make a sound.
"This woman saved my life,
" Dominic continued,
pointing to Ruby.
"She protected my home,"
"she exposed my enemies,"
"and she brought voice back to a house that was dying."
Dominic slowly dropped to one knee on the cold stone of the balcony,
holding Ruby's hand in his.
He pulled a stunning vintage ring from his pocket—a brilliant velvet-red ruby set in pure platinum,
surrounded by diamonds that had belonged to his mother.
Ruby gasped,
her hands flying to her mouth,
tears welling in her eyes.
"Ruby Bennett,
" Dominic said,
his voice trembling with deep,
unshakable love,
"you made me afraid of the quiet,"
"and now I never want to live without your song."
"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife,"
"and the matriarch of the Vale empire?"
Down in the courtyard,
Marcus led a sudden,
deafening roar of cheers and applause from the fifty mobsters below,
their voices shaking the very foundations of the mansion.
Ruby looked down at Dominic,
her heart bursting with overwhelming joy and love.
"Yes!" Ruby cried out,
her voice ringing clear above the crowd.
"Yes,
Dominic! Absolutely yes!"
Dominic stood up,
slid the ring onto her finger,
and pulled her into a passionate,
sweeping kiss that erased every shadow of their past pain.
The lonely mafia boss had found his strength,
May you like
the plus-size maid had claimed her throne,
and together,
