This was what he'd fought for.
Not territory. Not empire. Not even revenge, really.
But this...the right to sit at a table with the people he cared about, the right to know they were safe, the right to experience this simple, profound comfort.
"More wine?" Nonna asked, already refilling glasses without waiting for an answer.
"Nonna, we're fine," Mike said, but he was smiling.
"You're never fine," Nonna replied. "Men are never fine. They need wine, food, and constant supervision."
Eve laughed again, and the sound filled the entire penthouse.
***
The dinner had concluded an hour later, after multiple courses and Nonna's insistent refusals to let anyone help with the dishes.
"You sit," Nonna had commanded. "I clean. You rest."
Now, Dimitri was standing, pulling Eve close to him as Nonna disappeared into the kitchen.
Mike was on his phone, giving his security team updates about the day's operations.
