Chapter 10 - FOREVER AFTER
The wedding was nothing like the high-society, underworld-adjacent affairs Chicago’s elite expected from a man like Gabriel Kane.
There were no press cameras, no rival syndicate bosses trying to angle for alliances, and no armed tactical teams standing guard by the altar.
It was held in a private, sun-drenched glass conservatory overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan. Just family, a few trusted friends, and the soft, beautiful melodies of a live string quartet.
Beatrice Costello sat front and center, dressed in a stunning silver silk gown, beaming with radiant pride as she watched her son stand by the altar. Chloe Bennett stood beside her as maid of honor, wiping a stray tear of joy from her cheek.
And right there in the front row, holding a tiny, miniature velvet pillow with two platinum wedding bands attached to it—safely strapped into a baby tuxedo that was entirely too big for him—was eleven-month-old Eli, babbling happily at a shiny button on his shirt.
Gabriel stood tall in a tailored charcoal tuxedo, his eyes locked on the heavy oak doors at the end of the aisle as they slowly swung open.
And there she was.
Claire walked down the aisle in a gown of classic, understated ivory lace. She wasn’t wearing her tortoiseshell glasses today; her hair was swept up into soft curls adorned with delicate white jasmine blossoms, and her smile was so bright it practically rivaled the spring sun pouring through the glass ceiling.
As she reached the altar, Gabriel stepped forward, taking her hands in his. His palms were warm, steady, and entirely sure.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
“You clean up all right yourself, Mr. Kane,” she teased softly, her dark eyes sparkling with love.
The vows were simple, spoken from the heart without the rigid formality of tradition. When Gabriel slid the platinum band onto her finger, it felt less like a shackle in a dangerous world and more like a key—unlocking a future they would build together, brick by brick, safe in the light they had fought so hard to find.
“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant smiled.
Gabriel pulled Claire into his arms, kissing her with a depth of passion and reverence that made the string quartet swell into a triumphant crescendo.
From the front row, baby Eli let out a loud, cheerful squeal, clapping his chubby hands together in approval.
May you like
The guests laughed, the music soared, and as Gabriel lifted Claire into his arms for their first dance as husband and wife, the shadows of the past finally vanished completely into the light.
They had survived the fire. They had outsmarted the storm. And as they held each other close surrounded by the people who loved them, they knew that their story was only just beginning.
