Chapter 14 - THE GIRL WHO CHOSE HER OWN FUTURE
Six months later, the Velvet Lounge closed.
The building was sold.
Greg Hart faced prosecution for his role in Michael Vance's death and the trafficking operation.
Several other members of the network were arrested.
Dante continued cooperating with investigators while restructuring his remaining legitimate businesses.
The Vanel empire became smaller.
Cleaner.
And far less powerful in the ways that had once made people afraid.
I returned to school.
Not because Dante told me to.
Because I wanted to.
I enrolled in a nursing program.
After years of watching nurses care for Toby, I knew exactly what kind of work I wanted to do.
Dante offered to pay my tuition.
I refused.
He smiled.
“Still stubborn.”
“Still independent.”
“Can I at least buy you dinner?”
I laughed.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you're going to ask me to dance again.”
He grinned.
“Probably.”
Toby recovered steadily.
He returned to school.
Made friends.
And eventually went to Coney Island with Gerald tucked inside his backpack.
He rode the roller coaster twice.
I screamed the entire time.
Dante laughed so hard he nearly dropped his sunglasses.
That evening, we walked along the boardwalk.
Toby ran ahead carrying cotton candy.
Dante took my hand.
“Happy?”
I looked at my brother.
Then at the ocean.
Then at the man beside me.
“Yes.”
Dante smiled.
“Good.”
I squeezed his hand.
“But I still have one question.”
“What?”
“Why did you ask me to dance that night?”
He looked toward the water.
Then smiled faintly.
“Because everyone else in that room was trying to impress me.”
“And?”
“You were trying to survive your shift.”
I laughed.
“That impressed you?”
He looked at me.
“No.”
His expression softened.
“What impressed me was that you were afraid and still told me no.”
I smiled.
“Someone had to.”
May you like
He kissed my forehead.
“I'm glad it was you.”
