Page 159 of Detained

“What are you waiting for, throw it.” Zara nudges me and I look at her. She should be the one to end his life. Her revenge.

I hand her the lighter and she furrows her brow in confusion.

“You do it for us, baby.”

“Are you sure?” She hesitantly takes it from me.

“Positive.” My hand finds the small of her back as she throws.

In a matter of seconds, the flames ignite. Nikolai starts up the boat. The flames grew taller in the distance as we moved further away.

“Stop,” I shout. It won’t be long before it goes bang with the number of explosives the Russians put on the boat.

I take a seat and pull Zara onto my lap. The deafening silence fills the air as the flames consume the yacht. She settles against me, her head resting in the crook of my neck. I inhale a deep breath of her vanilla scent and calm washes over me.

The moment I’ve waited for, for what feels like my whole life. I squeeze her tight. This wasn’t just about me. This was for us, for our baby, for everything we’ve lost.

I know nothing can ever bring them back, but this is enough for me to move forward. To focus on what is truly important, our new family and our legacy. We will rule over New York together and there isn’t a single person who can stop us.

Together, we are unstoppable. Just like I knew we would be.

I rest my head against hers. The moment when the yacht explodes a weight is lifted from my shoulders and I can’t hide my smile. Sitting here, with the love of my life nestled against me, our enemies going up in flames.

Ending a war that has consumed my entire existence for a long time.

“I told you we’d set the world on fire together, dolcezza.”

As she spins around in my lap, her hair brushes against my face. I don’t give a fuck who is around us. All I see is her. The flames blaze in the background as I get lost in her sparkling green eyes.

“You did. Now you have to make good on your second promise.”

“And what would that be?”

Her embrace tightens.

I instinctively bite down on my lip, trying to contain the rush of emotions.

“Marry me.”

“That’s first up on my agenda, angel. There is never any going back now, mine forever,” I utter against her lips.

“That sounds perfect to me, Mr. Falcone.”

67

FRANKIE

There’s a somber feeling in the air. Kings gym is lined with our men, full to the brim. In hindsight, we didn’t lose many, but any is too much.

Jax, Grayson, and Luca join me and Zara up in the ring. I need to do what any good leader does; show them their worth, and keep them loyal to me.

I tighten my grip on the red ropes. Just because Romano is gone, doesn’t mean we start slacking. There is always another enemy waiting to swoop in for power. We’re now working with the Russians who have enemies in the country.

It’s always going to be a dangerous life.

“Romano is dead, the Capris are no longer an organization, nor a threat to us.” I start my speech off with, which earns me a cheer from the crowd.

“Each and everyone of you have earned your place here, and will be compensated well for your work.”

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