Page 53 of The Bratty Heir

"Dangerous pastime," Victor teased, wrapping an arm around Rocco's waist. "Care to share?"

Rocco looked from Victor to Lucia and back again, his heart full to bursting. "Just thinking about how lucky I am," he said softly. "How perfect our life is."

Victor's eyes softened, love shining in their depths. "It is pretty perfect, isn't it?" he murmured, pressing a kiss to Rocco's temple.

As they stood there, the three of them wrapped in a family embrace, Rocco felt a profound sense of peace wash over him. This was everything he'd ever wanted, everything he never knew he needed.

The future stretched out before them, full of possibility and promise. There would be challenges, of course. The family business would always come with its share of complications. But Rocco knew that together, they could face anything.

Two halves of a whole, forged in fire and blood, now bound together by love and family. Unbreakable. Unstoppable.

And completely, utterly happy.

As the sun set over the New York skyline, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, Rocco sent up a silent prayer of thanks. For Victor, for Lucia, for the life they'd built together.

It wasn't the future he'd imagined for himself all those years ago, when he was a lost boy playing at being a man. It was better. So much better.

And as Victor pulled him closer, pressing a tender kiss to his lips while Lucia giggled between them, Rocco knew one thing with absolute certainty:

This was just the beginning of their happily ever after.

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