Chapter 10 - The Color of Home
Six months later.
The Moretti estate was no longer a fortress of silence. The heavy, dark drapes had been permanently removed, letting the Chicago sun pour into the hallways.
Santiago sat at the head of the massive dining table. It was Sunday dinner, a tradition he had reinstated. The table was loud, filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the chaotic energy of a family that was finally whole.
To his left sat Sophia. She was talking. Her voice was still quiet, and sometimes she preferred to sign when she was overwhelmed, but she was no longer a locked vault. She was a vibrant teenager, currently arguing passionately with Lorenzo about a movie.
To his right sat Ruby.
She wasn't wearing a maid's uniform. She wore a simple, elegant emerald dress. A brilliant diamond rested on her left ring finger, catching the light from the chandelier.
Santiago reached under the table, his large, calloused hand finding hers. He intertwined their fingers.
Ruby turned to look at him, that radiant, genuine smile lighting up her features. The shadows of Elena Romano were gone. She was just Ruby. His equal. His partner. His wife.
"What are you thinking about, Boss?" she teased softly, her thumb tracing his knuckles.
May you like
Santiago looked down the table at his sister, who was laughing out loud at a joke Lorenzo made, then back to the woman who had brought his family back from the dead.
"I was just thinking," Santiago murmured, leaning in to kiss her softly. "Green really is the best color."
