Chapter 9 - Healing and Truth
Emma and Chloe didn't wait. With a small, choked sob of relief, both girls threw themselves forward, wrapping their arms around Dante's waist. Dante dropped immediately to one knee, wrapping his powerful arms securely around them, burying his face in their hair as his shoulders trembled with unexpressed emotion.
"I'm sorry," Dante murmured, his voice thick with a raw, protective tenderness that few ever witnessed. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here to protect you every second. You are never, ever going to be afraid in this house again. I promise you."
Chloe sniffled, holding up her slightly rumpled stuffed bunny. "She... she tried to throw him away, daddy."
Dante gently stroked Chloe's hair, kissing the top of her head. "He's safe now, sweetheart. Nobody is ever taking him away again."
He looked up, his gaze shifting from his daughters to Grace, who stood quietly a few paces back, her hands neatly folded in front of her apron.
Dante stood up, holding Chloe in one arm while Emma stayed close to his side, her small hand firmly gripping his sleeve. He walked over to Grace, stopping just inches away.
"Grace," Dante said, his voice deep and steady, filled with a profound gratitude that words could barely capture. "For years, you have protected my family, cared for my daughters with genuine love, and stood firm against threats when you had every reason to walk away."
Grace looked down respectfully. "I only did what was right, Mr. Salvatore. The girls mean the world to me."
"More than you know," Dante replied softly. He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a heavy, embossed leather folder—not a fake audit, but something entirely real. He handed it to her.
Grace opened it hesitantly. Inside was a permanent deed of ownership for a sprawling, beautiful estate in the countryside, accompanied by a lifetime employment contract with executive status, ensuring financial security and absolute authority over household operations for as long as she wished to stay.
"This is..." Grace gasped, looking up in shock. "Sir, I can't accept this. I'm just the housekeeper—"
"You are family, Grace," Dante interrupted gently, placing a firm, reassuring hand on her shoulder. "And in this family, loyalty and love are rewarded above all else. From this day forward, your word in this house is absolute law, second only to my own."
Emma and Chloe smiled brightly, rushing forward to hug Grace around the waist.
"Please stay, Grace!" Emma pleaded. "Don't ever leave us!"
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Grace looked down at the two smiling girls, her eyes welling up with tears of pure joy. She looked back up at Dante, seeing the quiet, genuine warmth in the eyes of the man the underworld feared.
"I'm not going anywhere," Grace whispered, smiling through her tears.
