The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 116: The Proposal

The room is silent.

Then Janet Park speaks. "I’ve heard enough. I’m voting for Tony."

Victoria’s face tightens. "Mrs. Park, the numbers-"

"The numbers are meaningless if the company doesn’t exist in five years." Park’s voice is firm. "I’m voting for stability and for integrity. For someone who actually cares about what he’s building."

"That’s four votes for Tony," someone tallies.

Two more board members raise their hands. "Make that six."

We need one more. Just one.

Robert Gale hasn’t moved, still undecided.

He was the tiebreaker.

"Mr. Gale?" Victoria’s voice has an edge now. "Surely you see the financial benefit-"

"I need more assurance," Gale interrupts, looking at me. "Some guarantee that Tony won’t be distracted again. That this relationship drama won’t affect the company."

Victoria pounces. "See? Even your supporters doubt you."

And in that moment, I know what I have to do.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the promise ring.

Katherine’s ring, the one she gave back. The one I’ve been carrying every day since.

"Mr. Gale." I turn to face him. "You want assurance of my commitment? My focus?"

I turn to Katherine. Her eyes widen.

"I love you," I say. "I’ve loved you since the moment we met. Through every crisis, every danger, and every mistake I’ve made."

"Tony, what are you-"

"I’ve let you down. Let my ambition overshadow what actually matters, but I’m done making that mistake." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

I drop to one knee. Right there. In front of twelve board members and the woman trying to destroy everything I’ve built.

"Katherine Blaire. Will you marry me?"

The room goes completely silent.

Katherine’s crying. Hands over her mouth. "Tony..."

"I know this is crazy, and I know the timing is terrible." I hold up the ring. "But I need you to know - you’re my priority. Always and forever."

"The business, the empire, all of it means nothing without you. So, will you marry me? Build a life with me and save this company with me?"

She’s looking at the ring, at me, and at Victoria’s furious face.

Then she laughs through the tears. "Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you."

I slide the ring onto her finger, stand, and pull her into a kiss.

The board members applaud. Even the ones who voted against me are clapping.

Robert Gale stands. "That’s the commitment I needed to see. I vote for Tony Marvin."

Seven votes.

I won.

Victoria’s face is pure rage.

"This isn’t over," she hisses.

"Yes, it is." My voice is steel. "You lost. Walk away while you can."

"Walk away?" She laughs - bitter and broken. "You think a board vote ends this?"

"You destroyed Charles, destroyed the Commission, and destroyed everything I cared about."

Her hand moves to her jacket. Something metallic catches the light.

"A board vote doesn’t settle that debt."

She pulls out a gun.

The board members scream and scramble for the exits.

The gun is pointed at Katherine.

"Only blood does."

I move. Putting myself between Katherine and the weapon.

"Victoria, don’t-"

"You took everything from me." Her finger tightens on the trigger. "Now I take her from you. Tell Charles I finished his work."

The gun starts to rise-

A shot rings out.

But not from Victoria’s gun. It’s from the doorway.

Victoria spins with blood blooming on her shoulder. The gun falls from her hand.

Luca steps through the door, his weapon still raised.

"Been monitoring the whole time," he says calmly. "You’re under arrest, Victoria."

FBI floods the room, Timothy leading them, with Agent Chen right behind.

Victoria’s on the ground, clutching her shoulder and screaming.

"This isn’t over! You hear me? It’s NOT OVER!"

But it is.

FBI agents restrain her, read her rights for attempted murder, conspiracy, fraud, and securities violations.

She’s done.

Timothy approaches us. "You two okay?"

"Fine." I’m still holding Katherine. Both of us shaking. "Thank you."

"Thank Luca. He called us when you entered the building."

I nod to Luca. He nods back.

The board members are being escorted out. Giving statements, and most of them look shaken.

Robert Gale stops beside me. "Congratulations on the vote... and the engagement."

"Thank you."

"For what it’s worth, you were right. About integrity and about building something that lasts." He shakes my hand. "Don’t lose sight of that."

"I won’t."

He leaves. The room empties until it’s just Katherine and me.

"Did you mean it?" she asks quietly.

"The proposal?"

"Yes."

"Every word." I take her face in my hands. "I want to marry you. Build a life with you and start over. Do it right this time."

"When?"

"Tomorrow. Today. Whenever you want."

She laughs through tears. "Let’s start with surviving tonight."

We walk out of the hotel. Hand in hand, engaged, together, and victorious.

The night air is cold and clean. We breathe it in.

For the first time in months, it feels like we can finally rest.

Few minutes later, Katherine’s phone rings from an unknown number.

She almost doesn’t answer, but I nod for her to.

"Hello?"

I watched as her face changed, then went white.

"What?" she whispers. "Who is this?"

She puts it on speaker.

It was an unfamiliar male voice.

"Congratulations on your engagement and on defeating Victoria. Hmmm..., really impressive work."

"Who is this?" Katherine demands.

"But you should know, Victoria was just one student. Charles Sterling taught many of us, and we’re all coming for you. Every single one."

My blood runs cold.

"Sleep well, Katherine. While you still can."

The line goes dead.

Katherine stares at the phone. Then at me.

"Charles had other students," she says. "Other people he trained, and they’re coming for us."

"How many?"

"I don’t know." Her voice shakes. "But enough to make Victoria look like a warm-up."

We stand there on the New York street. Just engaged, feeling victorious.

And already under threat again.

We thought it was over.

Thought we could finally rest.

Build the life we’ve been fighting for.

But the war against Charles Sterling’s legacy is just beginning.

And this time, we don’t know who the enemy is.

Or when they’ll strike.

Or how many there are.

We just know one thing:

It’s not over.

It’s never over.