Epilogue | Alexis
Epilogue
Alexis
Two months later
Mom and I picked up the chair in my study and carried it to the living room. Once we set it in the corner, I wiped my hands.
“Well, chair. Enjoy your new home until my study is renovated. When you return, we’re going to have so much space to hang.”
Mom patted my shoulder. “Dear, should I be worried that you’re talking to a chair?”
“We’ve grown close since I spend hours a day in the study. Let it lie.”
Mom laughed. “All right, then.”
Michael and Nick strode through the front door, both of them approaching us and giving us a kiss.
“How was the meeting at Red Hook?”
“Good,” Michael said, squeezing Mom’s hand.
“Nothing is getting through that port without me knowing, and Alexis’s security system is unbelievable.
We were able to get facial recognition matches on three of Oskar’s men who trespassed there last week, and Leo’s having the cops search for any violations.
If they have a warrant, they’re going to jail. ”
“Happy to be of service,” I said with a salute. “Facial recognition at the ports is going to help a lot.”
“How was your morning, ladies?” Michael asked.
“Good. Mom did yoga in the back yard and I worked on the encryption for the updated bookkeeping system. I think Katia’s going to love it once I train her on it.”
“She’s very sharp, so I’m sure she’ll pick it up quickly,” Michael said with a nod.
“Can you come to the house with me for a minute?” Nick asked, and I realized he was a bit pale. “I need to show you something.”
“Uh, sure.”
He extended his hand, and I took it, squeezing as he led me through the house. “Are you okay? You look...weird. Are you sweating? Do you need to go to a doctor?”
“I’m fine.”
We approached the back door, and he opened it before leading me out to the yard. As we walked down the small slope, I gasped as I saw the pink and red roses spread out across the newly mowed grass. They spelled “Will You Marry Me?” above a heart.
My gaze snapped to Nick’s. “What the—”
“Sorry, sweetie,” Mom said. “I wasn’t doing yoga. This was a much better exercise.”
My heart pounded in my chest as Nick led me to the flowers. Turning to face me, he smiled as a bit of color returned to his cheeks.
“Aw, you’re nervous,” I whispered, placing my palm on his chest. “That’s so cute.”
“So fucking nervous,” he murmured.
“Spoiler alert: I’m going to say yes.”
His smile was radiant as he removed a ring box from his pocket and lowered to one knee. Opening it, he gazed up at me as his hair blew in the gentle breeze. He was achingly handsome as he began to speak, and my throat closed with emotion.
“Alexis, we’ve survived forced captivity, a blizzard and an explosion, so I’m pretty sure that means we’re in this for the long haul.”
I laughed and covered my lips with my fingers.
“I wish I could rent the biggest ballroom in Brooklyn and do this there, but it would be too much exposure to keep you safe from my enemies, and I’m sorry for that.
But I’m also honored to ask you to marry me in the place where Michael gave me a home and helped me become the man I want to be for you. ”
Michael cleared his throat, the sound full of raw emotion, and I saw Mom cuddle into his side from the corner of my eye.
“Now, I’m ready to build a new home with you, especially since you’re forcing me to renovate my house.”
I swatted his shoulder as Mom laughed.
“For as many years as we have left, I promise to love and cherish you in every way possible. You’re every dream I’ve ever had, and I love you more than I realized was even possible. Alexis Victoria Rossi, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down my face as I nodded. “Yes!”
He slipped a huge, gorgeous diamond on my finger before rising and taking me in his arms. Lifting me off my feet, he swung me around as we kissed under the bright morning sky.
Once he set me down, he rested his forehead against mine and whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We held each other as Mom and Michael clapped, and I realized Carmen, Leticia and Burns were watching as Carmen videoed the engagement.
My smile widened as I whispered, “Should we tell them we’re pregnant?”
He shook his head against mine. “Not today. But definitely tomorrow. Let’s just make this day about us.”
Nodding, I tightened my arms around his neck and closed my eyes. We swayed back and forth, consumed with hope as our child nestled between us beside the home where we would build our future.
Marco
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
I walked toward the lone figure whose broad shoulders were flanked by the Manhattan skyline. Approaching the river, I came to a stop beside him, staring at the tall buildings across the water.
“You’re late,” he said, his Slavic accent adding a more menacing tone to his words.
“I forgot how bad traffic is in New York.” Lifting my chin, I continued to stare at the skyline, refusing to make eye contact; reminding him that I was in charge of the conversation. “But you can’t beat the view.”
“No, you can’t.” Facing me, he arched a thick eyebrow above his chiseled jawline. “Michael Caruso is more powerful than we realized. We’ll have to work together to bring him down.”
Turning, I finally looked him in the eye and nodded. “Yes. John Armetta went after his family to no avail. Targeting his liquor licenses and permits has been less than effective. His ties run deep in this city and along the East Coast.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We’re going to try something new, Oskar. Now that I’m here, we’re going to target him where it will truly cut him off at the knees.”
Oskar’s eyebrows lifted, a question in his eyes.
“We’re going to target his money,” I said, my tone firm. “We’ll take him down financially and that will crush him.”
Oskar rubbed his chin. “I agree that will do much damage, but Michael is wily and his businesses are set up extremely well.”
“Who runs his finances? That person is the key to destroying him.”
“Katia Riivik. She’s one of his former strippers who worked her way up to his accountant. She runs his books to make everything look legitimate.”
“Then we’ll target Katia Riivik,” I said, turning to face the skyline again. “Your hacker will infiltrate her systems, and we’ll expose Michael’s laundering. Once the feds are aware, he’ll be consumed with fighting them, leaving us to assume control of the East Coast ports.”
“He’s got feds on his payroll,” Oskar said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Facing him, I patted his shoulder. “My friend, I have senators on my payroll. Ones who appreciate the things I traffic, and ones who’ve pledged their loyalty to me. Once I’m done with him, Michael Caruso will wish for the day he only had to worry about Victor Rossi.”
Oskar nodded. “I’ll have my hacker begin immediately.”
“Good,” I said, the anticipation of the power I would wrest from Michael surging in my veins. “I’ll be staying in New York for a while, and we’ll work together on this. I have no desire to drag it out. By this time next year, I want Michael ruined and in prison.”
Oskar extended his hand. “We are aligned. I’ll keep you updated.”
He shook my hand and trailed from the beach as I stood for a moment longer, inhaling the air of the city I would soon control. Michael Caruso should’ve left well enough alone, but men who felt they were invincible often had the greatest downfalls.
I’d controlled the Southeast coast for years, but it was time to assert my claim further north.
Victor Rossi’s death left an opening, and if Michael didn’t want anything to do with trafficking, I’d damn well take over the mantle.
It was too lucrative to be eliminated, and I was poised to grow my empire.
Taking Michael Caruso down was my only option, and unfortunately for her, this Katia woman would be the first casualty in my crosshairs...