Chapter 57
The Tuscan sky was clear and brilliantly sunny when Dante returned to the sandstone villa. He had wrapped up the Italian excursion swiftly, leaving zero forensic evidence tied to his identity. To the outside world, it was just another violent turf dispute among smugglers at the Port of Livorno. As Dante walked through the gates, Maya was watering the blooming hydrangeas on the porch. Little Hope was toddling behind her with a tiny watering can. Seeing him, Maya beamed a radiant smile, dropping the can and running to throw her arms around him. "How was the business trip, darling?" Maya asked, burying her face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. "I missed you so much." Dante wrapped his arms tightly around his wife, feeling the peaceful rhythm of her heartbeat. The scent of flowers and sunshine chased away the lingering stench of cordite and blood in his memory. "Everything was resolved perfectly, my love. No one will ever bother us again." Sophia stepped out of the house, her face glowing. "Daddy’s home! Did you bring me a gift from Florence?" Dante smiled, pulling a premium set of oil paints from his jacket pocket that he had managed to buy at the airport. "Of course, my little princess." Dinner that evening was filled with laughter and warmth. Dante sat at the head of the table, watching Maya feed Hope, and listening to Sophia enthusiastically describe the paintings she planned to create. He realized that while the underworld was an endless cycle of violence and lies, the love of a family was the only power capable of breaking that cycle. He had returned to the darkness one last time, but it was worth it to protect the light he held so dear.
