The Mafia Boss Carried His Exhausted Maid to His Bed, but What She Was Holding When She Woke Changed Everything

One year later.

The summer sun was warm over the gardens behind Kane House. The private stretch of Lake Michigan sparkled like diamonds under the clear blue sky.

Avery sat on a wide woven bench in the center of the newly planted rose garden, wearing a soft white sundress. Her feet were bare in the grass, and she was smiling as she watched Dominic across the lawn.

The feared boss of the Chicago underworld was currently sitting on the grass, his expensive suit trousers completely ruined by dirt, playing with a six-month-old golden retriever puppy they had adopted from a shelter the week before.

"He's winning, you know," Avery called out, her voice filled with laughter. "The puppy is definitely stronger than you."

Dominic looked up, a bright, handsome grin spreading across his face—a grin that only she ever got to see. He stood up, shaking off the grass, and walked over to where she sat.

He knelt in front of her, placing his large hands gently on her knees, looking up at her with an intensity that still made her breath catch after all this time.

"He might be stronger," Dominic admitted, "but I have the ultimate prize right here."

He reached out, his warm palm sliding gently up her leg to rest softly over her stomach—where a small, soft bump was just beginning to show beneath the white fabric of her dress.

Avery placed her hand over his, her heart overflowing with a happiness so profound it felt like a dream.

"How is our little one today?" Dominic asked softly, his voice full of reverence as he leaned forward to press a tender kiss directly against her stomach.

"Growing," Avery smiled, running her fingers through his dark hair. "Dr. Harris says everything looks perfect. A healthy, strong baby girl."

Dominic lifted his head, his dark eyes shining with tears he didn't bother to hide. "A girl," he whispered, awe filling his voice. "A little girl who will have her mother's strength, her mother's heart, and her mother's beautiful brown eyes."

"And her father's stubbornness," Avery added with a soft laugh.

Dominic stood up, sitting beside her on the bench, pulling her gently into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek against hers as they watched the waves roll in from Lake Michigan.

Four years ago, Avery Collins had walked into this house as a broken, terrified maid, carrying the weight of a debt that wasn't hers, believing she was destined to live in the shadows forever.

Now, she was the heart of an empire, loved beyond measure by a man who would tear down the world to keep her safe, surrounded by a life they had built together out of courage, truth, and unconditional love.

Dominic kissed her cheek, his hand holding hers tight.

"I love you, Avery," he whispered.