Chapter 10 - The House on Elm Street
Six months later.
May had arrived, bringing warm sunshine, blooming trees, and gentle sea breezes that swept across the city.
The underworld war was over. The Moretti Family had been completely dismantled, their territory absorbed into Rossy Maritime Logistics, establishing absolute, undisputed peace throughout the lower wards and harbor districts.
On Elm Street, the grass in the front yard was a vibrant, lush green.
The house with the glossy yellow front door stood bathed in warm afternoon sunlight.
In the backyard, six-year-old Maya was laughing delightedly, running across the soft grass wearing a bright yellow sundress, chasing a golden retriever puppy that Gabriel had gifted her for doing so well in her first-grade reading class.
"Slow down, Maya!" Clara called out with a joyful laugh, sitting on a wooden bench beneath the shade of the large oak tree.
She wore a soft white summer dress that caught the breeze. Her skin was glowing with health and happiness, her dark hair flowing freely over her shoulders.
Beside her on the bench sat Gabriel.
He had traded his tailored charcoal suits for a simple gray linen shirt and dark trousers. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his tattooed arms, and his storm-gray eyes were filled with a deep, permanent warmth as he watched Maya play.
In front of the bench, a brand-new garden bed had been built into the rich soil. Bright, beautiful rows of yellow daffodils, red tulips, and purple lavender bloomed under the afternoon sun.
"They grew nicely," Gabriel observed softly, his deep voice carrying a peaceful rhythm.
"They're beautiful," Clara smiled, leaning her head against his broad shoulder. "Maya and I watered them every morning."
Gabriel reached out, his long fingers intertwining with hers, resting their joined hands on his knee. On Clara’s ring finger, a simple, elegant platinum band with a small, brilliant diamond caught the sunlight.
They had been married three weeks ago in a quiet, private ceremony in a small stone chapel near the coast, attended only by Maya, Mrs. Gable, and a few close friends.
Gabriel lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently.
"What are you thinking about, Mrs. Rossy?" Gabriel asked softly, his thumb brushing over her skin.
Clara turned her head, looking into his storm-gray eyes—the eyes that had once frightened her in a dark bakery, but now represented her absolute safety, home, and future.
"I was thinking about seven dollars and forty-three cents," Clara said, a warm, soft smile gracing her lips.
Gabriel let out a quiet, raspy chuckle, pulling her closer against his side, wrapping his broad arm around her waist.
"The best investment I ever made," Gabriel whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
May you like
Across the green lawn, Maya ran toward them, her golden puppy bouncing at her heels, her bright, joyful laughter ringing out under the warm spring sky, filling the air with the sound of a life fully reborn.
And behind them, glowing brightly in the afternoon sun, the yellow door stood open to a home that would never know fear, poverty, or darkness again.
