Chapter 10 - The Last Italian Sunrise
Six months later, the Baltimore waterfront looked entirely different.
The old rail line was fully operational, humming with gleaming cargo trains moving freight between Costa Vanguard Logistics and the expanded shipping docks. And right in the center of it all, Bellini Auto & Transmission stood proudly—not as a crumbling relic of the past, but as a state-of-the-art automotive facility, fully modernized, debt-free, and busier than ever.
Inside the garage office, Leo was actually sitting at the desk, looking over computerized invoices with genuine focus. Miracles really did happen.
Outside on the loading apron, the morning sun was rising over the Chesapeake Bay, painting the sky in brilliant shades of gold, amber, and rose.
Frankie leaned against the passenger door of her brand-new matte-black Ford F-250, holding a steaming cup of dark, Italian roast coffee. She wore a clean canvas work jacket, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders.
Footsteps echoed softly on the fresh asphalt.
Gabriel Costa walked up beside her, wearing a tailored navy suit without a tie, looking relaxed and completely at home in the bustling industrial harbor. He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his side.
Frankie leaned her head against his shoulder, sipping her coffee. "You know, for a ruthless mafia boss, you're not terrible at home renovations."
Gabriel chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "I told you, Francesca. When I invest in something, I ensure it prospers for a lifetime."
"It's not an investment, Costa," she said, turning her head to look up at him with a teasing glint in her eyes. "It's a partnership."
"Same thing," Gabriel murmured, his dark eyes softening with deep, undeniable affection.
He reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a small, elegant velvet box, and held it out to her.
Frankie froze. She looked down at the box, then up at Gabriel, her breath catching in her throat. "What is this?"
"A permanent contract," Gabriel said smoothly, his voice dropping into a warm, gentle tone. "No escape clauses. No buyout options. Exclusive rights for the rest of our lives."
Frankie’s heart hammered against her ribs, a wild, joyful rhythm. She smiled, setting her coffee cup down on the truck bed, and gently popped open the velvet box to reveal a stunning, vintage diamond ring sparkling in the morning sun.
"You really are an impossible, arrogant, stubborn Italian, Gabriel Costa," Frankie whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears of happiness.
May you like
"And you love every minute of it, Francesca Bellini," Gabriel replied softly, sliding the ring onto her finger.
As the morning sun bathed the Baltimore harbor in brilliant golden light, Gabriel pulled her close, sealing their future with a deep, passionate kiss as the city around them roared to life, forever changed by a blood debt that had turned into an everlasting love story.
