Chapter 15 - THE FINAL TOAST
The clock struck midnight.
The crowd had thinned out, leaving only the inner circle.
Dante walked behind the mahogany bar.
He poured two glasses of aged vintage wine.
He handed one to me.
"To new beginnings," Dante said, raising his glass.
I clinked my glass against his.
"To the family," I replied.
We drank in silence.
The taste was rich, heavy, and sweet.
The war was over.
Moretti was locked away forever.
The Gallo empire was stronger than ever.
And I was no longer a shy waitress trying to pay off medical debts.
I was Nora Gallo.
Queen of the underworld.
The sparrow had learned how to hunt.
Dante smiled, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
"Papa would have been proud of you," he whispered.
I looked up at the oil painting of Salvatore hanging above the fireplace.
The old man seemed to be smiling.
"He taught me well," I said softly.
We turned our backs to the bar and walked out into the cool night air.
The city lights stretched out endlessly before us.
May you like
Bright, beautiful, and entirely ours.
THE END
