Chapter 15: Morning on the Hudson
The morning light broke over the Hudson River in pale streaks of silver and gold, cutting through the sheer linen curtains of the upstate house and warming the wide-plank oak floors of the living room. There was no dark wood paneling here, no armed guards stationed by the heavy front doors, and no neon signs casting red stains across a greasy diner table. Just the quiet sound of morning birds outside and the gentle shuffle of small feet running across the hallway.
I stood at the kitchen island, pouring hot water over fresh coffee grounds in a ceramic mug, listening to the muffled giggles echoing from the hallway. A moment later, Leo came barreling into the kitchen, wearing his favorite blue pajamas and clutching a stuffed rabbit Vincent had bought him during our first week away from the city.
"Up!" Leo announced, reaching his arms up toward me with a wide, gap-toothed smile.
"I see that," I laughed, setting the mug down and scooping him up into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to the top of his brown hair. "Did you sleep well, big guy?"
" Yeah," Leo mumbled, burying his face in my shoulder just the way he used to when he was overwhelmed—only now, there was no trembling in his small frame, no exhaustion, just the easy warmth of a child who knew he was safe.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around us both from behind, lifting our weight effortlessly as Vincent rested his chin gently on my shoulder. He was wearing a simple gray pullover and dark trousers, the sharp black suit and white dress shirt packed away in a garment bag in the back of the closet, likely never to be worn again. His tattooed hands rested securely around my waist, his fingers warm against my sweater.
"Good morning," Vincent murmured against my ear, his voice rough with sleep.
"Morning," I turned my head slightly, catching his lips in a slow, unhurried kiss that tasted of black coffee and possibility. "You're up early."
"Hard to sleep in when you have two alarm clocks," Vincent smiled, glancing down at Leo, who giggled and poked at Vincent's cheek with a stubby finger.
"Dada!" Leo said clearly, the word slipping out with the casual certainty of a child who had never known any other reality.
Vincent froze for a fraction of a second, the dark eyes that had once stared down cartel capos and terrified waiters softening completely. A slow, genuine smile spread across his face, one that reached his eyes and stayed there. He reached out, gently tickling Leo's ribs until the boy shrieked with laughter, kicking his legs happily in the air.
"Yeah, buddy," Vincent whispered, his voice thick with an emotion he didn't bother to hide anymore. "Dada's right here."
We moved out onto the wide wooden deck overlooking the river, holding steaming mugs of coffee while Leo chased a stray golden retriever belonging to our nearest neighbor three properties down. The river flowed steadily past, carrying barges and commuter ferries toward the distant skyline of Manhattan, which now looked like nothing more than a jagged mountain range of glass and steel on the far horizon. It was a city I had once feared, a place where survival meant keeping your head down and praying you didn't catch the wrong person's eye. Now, it was just a view.
Vincent stood close beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders, his hand resting securely against my upper arm. The wind picked up off the water, carrying the crisp scent of autumn leaves and damp earth.
"Thinking about the restaurant?" Vincent asked quietly, sensing the slight shift in my posture.
"No," I said, leaning my head against his shoulder and closing my eyes for a moment to feel the sun on my face. "Just thinking about how close we came to missing all of this."
Vincent tightened his grip, pulling me a little closer until there was no space left between us. "We didn't miss it. We're here."
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Down by the lawn line, Leo waved frantically toward us, shouting something about a butterfly he'd found in the high grass. Vincent raised a hand, waving back with an easy, relaxed motion that would have seemed impossible in the tense, shadowy world we had left behind.
The past was behind us, buried under signed papers, liquidated assets, and the quiet peace of a morning that belonged entirely to us. I took a sip of my coffee, listening to the laughter of the boy who had brought us together, and realized for the first time in my life that the future wasn't something you had to survive—it was something you could finally build.
