Chapter 10 - The Unspoken OathGabriel held the open velvet box between them, his pale blue eyes fixed on Harper with a vulnerability he had never shown to another living soul.
"I don't offer you a calm life, Harper," Gabriel continued softly, his thumb gently wiping away the tear on her cheek. "My world will always have shadows. But I swear on my life, my name, and every brick of this city—no shadow will ever touch you or Noah again. You are my home now."
Harper looked from the glittering antique diamond up into Gabriel’s eyes. She didn't hesitate. She took the ring from the box, handed it to him, and extended her left hand.
"Put it on me, Gabriel," she whispered, her voice steady and full of conviction. "I don't want a quiet life if you aren't in it. I'm not afraid of your shadows."
Gabriel’s hand trembled slightly—a sight that would have shocked anyone in the Boston underworld—as he slid the platinum band onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly.
Before he could draw back, Harper wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a deep, fierce kiss that tasted of sweet relief and absolute devotion. Gabriel’s arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly off her feet, holding her against his chest as if she were the only real thing in a world of illusions.
A loud, deliberate cough broke the silence.
Marcus stood near the stove, holding a plate of pancakes, shaking his head with a broad grin. "Hey, Boss? The kid is watching. Also, you're burning the syrup."
Noah giggled from the kitchen island, his mouth full of breakfast. "Are you two getting married now?"
Gabriel broke the kiss, keeping one arm firmly around Harper’s waist as he turned to face the boy. "Yeah, kid. We are."
Noah nodded approvingly. "Cool. Does that mean I get a dog?"
Gabriel let out a rare, booming laugh that echoed off the high ceilings of the kitchen. "We'll see about the dog, Noah. Eat your food."
Later that afternoon, Gabriel stepped out onto the glass balcony of his study. The crisp autumn air swept over Beacon Hill, carrying the faint scent of salt from the Atlantic.
Harper joined him, wrapping a heavy cashmere shawl around her shoulders, leaning back against his chest as his arms came around her waist.
"What happens now?" she asked quietly, looking out at the city skyline.
"Now, we build," Gabriel said into her hair, his chin resting against her head. "Vance’s disappearance left a massive vacuum in the shipping sector. I’m transitioning our operations entirely into legitimate maritime logistics under the Ashford name. No more street wars. No more shadow games."
Harper turned her head slightly to look at him. "And what about you?"
Gabriel looked down at her, his expression softening completely. "I retired forty-eight hours ago, my love. I’m just a family man now."
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Harper smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his jawline. "A family man with a private security army."
"Details," Gabriel murmured, leaning down to capture her lips once more.
