Chapter 9 - The Promise Kept
Ivy reached the bottom of the stairs and ran straight into Marcus's open arms. He scooped her up effortlessly, pressing her close to his chest as he buried his face in her curls, letting out a long, shuddering sigh of pure relief.
"You came back," Ivy whispered, wrapping her small arms tightly around his neck. "Just like in my drawing."
"I told you I would, sweetheart," Marcus said, his voice breaking as a tear finally escaped his eye and tracked down his cheek. "I'm never going away."
Ivy pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide, serious blue-gray eyes. She reached out a tiny, warm hand and gently touched his cheek, tracing the edge of his jawline.
"Daddy," Ivy asked softly, the words echoing through the quiet, sunlit foyer just as they had in the park days ago, "can I hold your hand just once?"
Marcus looked down at her, his heart swelling to a size he never knew was possible. He opened his massive, calloused hand—the hand that had built an empire, the hand that had held weapons and doled out ruthless justice—and turned it palm up.
May you like
Ivy placed her tiny, perfect hand right inside his. Her small fingers curled around his thumb, completely enveloping her palm in his warm, protective grip.
Grace stood a few feet away, watching them with tears streaming freely down her face, a radiant smile breaking through. The shadow was gone. The dark fortress was now a home.
