Chapter 6 - Whispers in the Garden
That afternoon, Grace sat on a stone bench in the estate's private garden while Ivy chased butterflies across the manicured lawn. The heavy oak door behind her opened, and Marcus stepped out into the sunlight, joining her.
"You're quiet today," Grace said without looking up, feeling the familiar warmth of his presence beside her.
"There are things you need to know," Marcus said quietly, sitting beside her on the bench. "Salvatore is moving faster than anticipated. Tonight, I am going to end it. My men will secure the perimeter, but I have to handle Salvatore personally."
Grace turned to look at him, her heart sinking. "You're going out there? Into the war zone? Marcus, if something happens to you—"
"Nothing will happen to me," Marcus interrupted, turning to face her fully. He reached out, his large, calloused hand hovering just inches from her cheek before gently brushing a strand of brown hair behind her ear. The touch was electric, filled with three years of unexpressed longing. "I spent three years watching you from the dark, Grace. Now that I have you both in the light, I am never letting go. Not for anything in this world."
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"Be careful," Grace whispered, her eyes welling up with tears as she leaned slightly into his palm. "Ivy drew you with no face because she didn't know you yet. But she knows you now. She loves you, Marcus."
Marcus closed his eyes, pressing his forehead gently against hers in a moment of pure, raw vulnerability. "I love you both," he breathed. "More than my own life."
