Chapter 9 - THE LAST RULE
Senator Keating was arrested three days later.
Victor Kane disappeared.
Damen's father was taken into federal custody.
Daniel Brooks was reunited with Hannah and Emma.
And Sophia's case was officially reopened.
For the first time in nine years, Damen visited his sister's grave.
Hannah stood beside him.
He placed flowers down.
“I was wrong,” he whispered.
Hannah watched silently.
“I spent nine years believing she betrayed me.”
“She didn't.”
“I know.”
He wiped his eyes.
“She saved your family.”
“And she saved you.”
Damen looked at her.
“How?”
“Because if you had never found me, you might never have learned the truth.”
He smiled sadly.
“You always find a way to make things sound simple.”
“They aren't.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“But you make them easier.”
Weeks passed.
Hannah returned to West Haven.
The clinic received funding from an anonymous donor.
New equipment arrived.
The emergency assistance fund was restored.
A second nurse was hired.
Then a third.
Hannah discovered who had funded everything.
Damen.
She confronted him.
“You can't buy my clinic.”
“I didn't.”
“You donated half a million dollars.”
“Yes.”
“That is buying it.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Buying it would mean I owned it.”
“And you don't?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you told me once that helping people means giving them the ability to stand on their own.”
Hannah stared at him.
“I said that?”
“You did.”
“And you listened?”
“I listen to you.”
Her heart softened.
Then she noticed his hand.
A small scar crossed his knuckles.
She touched it.
“You still carry your father's sins.”
Damen looked down.
“Sometimes.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
He smiled.
“You make everything sound easy.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“I just believe people can change.”
Damen took her hand.
“I changed the day I caught you.”
Hannah's eyes filled.
“That sounds dramatic.”
“It is.”
“You're a mafia boss.”
“Former.”
She laughed.
“You don't get to decide that.”
“I already did.”
Then he became serious.
“There is one thing I still need to tell you.”
“What?”
“My last rule.”
“What rule?”
Damen looked at her.
“My father taught me never to make decisions while angry.”
“And?”
“I broke it when I saw your bruises.”
Hannah's expression softened.
“What did you want to do?”
“Destroy everyone responsible.”
She squeezed his hand.
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you made me understand something.”
“What?”
“Justice isn't revenge.”
Hannah smiled.
“That sounds like something a nurse would say.”
“It sounds like something you would say.”
He reached into his pocket.
Hannah expected another file.
Instead, he pulled out a small box.
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet.
She stared.
“I can't accept this.”
“You can.”
“Why?”
“Because you deserve something on your wrist that reminds you of protection instead of fear.”
Hannah's eyes filled with tears.
She let him put it on.
Then she whispered:
“Damen.”
“Yes?”
“I think I'm falling in love with you.”
He stared at her.
For the first time, the controlled man disappeared.
He looked almost frightened.
“That's inconvenient.”
She laughed.
“Why?”
“Because I already fell first.”
She kissed him.
And for the first time in years, Damen Moretti wasn't thinking about his father's empire.
Or Victor Kane.
Or Senator Keating.
Or revenge.
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He was thinking about a woman who had taught him that saving someone didn't always mean standing in front of a bullet.
Sometimes it meant standing beside them.