31. Mia

The morning light streams through the penthouse windows, painting everything in warm gold. It feels surreal—this moment of calm after the chaos that has defined our lives for so long. I’m sitting in the living room, sipping a cup of tea, when the sound of the elevator door opening makes me pause.

I glance toward the entryway, expecting Leo or one of Carlito’s men. Instead, it’s Bianca. She steps in, her suitcase trailing behind her, her posture firm but her expression unreadable.

“Bianca,” I say, standing quickly. “You’re back?”

“Just for today,” she says, her voice steady. There’s a softness in her eyes, though, a quiet peace that wasn’t there the last time I saw her. “I needed to see you both before I leave for good.”

My stomach tightens at her words, and Carlito appears from his study, his expression immediately sharpening at the sight of her. “Bianca,” he says simply, his tone unreadable.

She gives him a nod. “We need to talk.”

The three of us sit in the living room, the air heavy with unspoken emotions. Bianca rests her hands in her lap, glancing between me and Carlito before speaking. “I’ve made my decision,” she begins, her voice quiet but resolute. “I’m leaving Las Vegas. For good.”

I open my mouth to protest, but she lifts a hand to stop me. “This life... it’s not mine. It never was. After everything that happened with Dario, I couldn’t see it clearly. But now I can. I need to start over somewhere far away from all of this.”

Her words hit like a blow, but I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Where will you go?” I ask softly.

“Back to Los Angeles, at least for now,” she says. “I’ve been thinking about starting a business—something small, something mine.” Her voice trembles for a moment before she steadies it. “I can’t keep living in the shadow of this world. I need to build something outside of it, something that’s just me.”

Carlito’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t speak right away. Finally, he nods. “I can’t stop you,” he says, his voice low. “But know this: wherever you go, you’ll always have my protection. And if you ever need anything—”

“I know,” she interrupts, her voice softer now. “And I’m grateful. But I need to do this on my own.”

Her gaze shifts to me, her eyes glistening. “Mia, you’ve always been the brave one. You’ve fought for this family in ways I never could. And now, you’re building one of your own. I’m proud of you.”

Tears prick at my eyes as I reach for her hand. “You don’t have to go,” I whisper, even though I know she does.

“I do,” she says gently, squeezing my hand. “But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving you. We’ll always be sisters.”

The weight of her words settles between us, bittersweet but undeniable. As much as it hurts, I know she’s doing what’s right for her.

Carlito stands, offering her a hand. “Let me arrange for someone to take you to the airport.”

Bianca shakes her head. “I’ve got it covered. I just wanted to say goodbye properly this time.”

As she leaves the penthouse, I watch her go with a mix of pride and sadness. She’s choosing her path, just as I chose mine.

Bianca’s visit feels like a fleeting moment of warmth, a reminder of what once was and what can never fully return. I sit on the couch, staring at the door she walked through, imagining her stepping into her new life. It’s what she needs, but it doesn’t make her departure any easier to accept.

Carlito sits across from me, his expression unreadable as he swirls a glass of whiskey in his hand. Finally, he breaks the silence. “She’s stronger than I gave her credit for.”

“She’s always been strong,” I reply softly. “She just needed to find a way to be herself without the weight of all this.” I gesture vaguely around the room, encompassing the legacy, the danger, and the ties that bind us.

Carlito nods, his dark eyes thoughtful. “She’s doing what Dario would’ve wanted. Starting fresh. Away from this world.”

At the mention of Dario, my throat tightens. “She deserves it. After everything she’s lost...”

Carlito leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “We all do, Mia. A chance to start over. To build something better.”

I turn to him, searching his face. “Do you think that’s possible? For us?”

His gaze holds steady, filled with the quiet intensity I’ve come to know so well. “It won’t be easy. But nothing worth having ever is.”

His words settle between us, and for a moment, the silence is comforting, a shared understanding of the journey ahead. I rise from the couch and walk to the large windows, staring out at the city that has been both our battleground and sanctuary.

“We’ve survived so much,” I say quietly. “But sometimes I wonder if the scars will ever fade.”

Carlito stands and joins me, his presence a steady anchor. “Scars don’t fade,” he says, his voice low but sure. “They remind us of what we’ve fought for. What we’ve lost. And what we’ll never lose again.”

His hand brushes against mine, a small but powerful gesture. I glance at him, his dark eyes reflecting the same hope and determination I feel stirring within me.

Before I can respond, the doorbell chimes, cutting through the stillness. Carlito tenses, but I place a hand on his arm. “It’s Leo,” I say, already moving to answer it.

Leo steps inside, his usual stoic demeanor softened by a rare smile. “The property is officially all yours now. The security checks have been done twice and it’s secured for good”

Relief floods me but it’s tempered by the weight of responsibility. “Thank you, Leo,” I say, my voice steady.

He nods, his gaze flickering to Carlito. “You’ve done what no one else could. Now it’s time to focus on what comes next.”

Leo leaves us alone, and I turn back to Carlito. “He’s right. This isn’t just about survival anymore. It’s about living.”

Carlito pulls me close, his hands warm and steady against my back. “Then let’s start now,” he murmurs, his voice a promise.

I nod, feeling the pieces of our lives finally settling into place. Together, we’ve faced the darkness. Now, it’s time to embrace the light.

Carlito leads me to the balcony, the cool evening air carrying a refreshing stillness. Below us, the city glimmers, alive and bustling—a stark contrast to the serene quiet between us. For the first time in weeks, there’s no immediate threat looming, no secrets clawing their way to the surface.

I rest my hands on the railing, looking out at the lights. “Do you think this is what it feels like? To finally start over?”

Carlito steps beside me, his arm brushing mine. “Starting over doesn’t erase the past,” he says, his voice low. “But it gives us the chance to shape something better. For us. For the baby.”

The mention of our child pulls at my heart in a way I didn’t expect. I place a hand over my stomach, a protective instinct rising within me. “I want that more than anything,” I whisper.

Carlito’s hand covers mine, his warmth grounding me. “Then we’ll build it. Together.”

His thumb brushes my cheek, his dark eyes softer than I’ve ever seen them. “You’re incredible, Mia. Stronger than you know.”

I let out a soft laugh, tinged with disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, I think we both have a new understanding of what strength is.”

Carlito’s lips tug into a faint smile, but his gaze grows more intense. “Strength, yes. But also trust. I didn’t think I could let anyone in the way I’ve let you in, Mia. You’ve changed me.”

I blink back tears, his words hitting me harder than I expect. “You’ve changed me too, Carlito. You made me realize I can be more than just... afraid.”

His hand tightens on mine as he pulls me closer. “You never have to be afraid again. Not with me.”

His kiss takes me by surprise—not rough or desperate, but steady and full of quiet emotion. His lips move against mine as though he’s trying to tell me everything he can’t put into words.

His hands slide up to cradle my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks as the kiss deepens. There’s no urgency, just the quiet, deliberate way he moves, like he’s memorizing the moment. My fingers find their way to his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my touch. He breaks the kiss just long enough to press his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my lips.

“Mia,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “Let me show you how much you mean to me.”

I nod, words escaping me, and he lowers his head, his lips tracing a gentle path down my jawline. His hands slide to my waist, steady and grounding, as if anchoring us both in this fragile moment of connection. His touch is soft, reverent, as his lips skim the sensitive skin of my neck, leaving warmth in their wake.

My breath catches as his hand brushes my lower back, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us. I tilt my head back, surrendering to the tenderness of his embrace. It’s not about desire or passion—it’s about comfort, about trust, about the unspoken promise that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

Later, as we lie together in the warm glow of the bedroom, Carlito’s hand rests lightly on my stomach. His touch is gentle, reverent, and my heart swells at the sight of his dark eyes focused solely on me.

“This is it,” he says quietly, his voice carrying a weight I know all too well. “Our chance to make things right. To give our child the life we never had.”

I place my hand over his, lacing our fingers together. “And we’ll do it, Carlito. No more running, no more fear. Just... us.”

The sound of the city hums softly outside, but within these walls, the world feels far away. For the first time in what feels like forever, there’s no war to fight, no secrets to unravel—only the quiet promise of a future we’ll build together.

The End

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