Chapter 10 - All the Way to Three Hundred
Out on the sunlit stone terrace overlooking the sprawling gardens, little Maisie sat on the wide stone balustrade, swinging her legs in yellow leggings and pink sneakers. Her gray stuffed rabbit rested safely in her lap.
Footsteps approached behind her. She turned her head to see Victor Calder walking out toward her, removing his heavy signet ring—the symbol of absolute syndicate authority—and slipping it into his coat pocket for good.
He stopped right in front of her, looking down with a rare, gentle expression.
"I missed a few numbers," Victor said quietly.
Maisie nodded wisely, sliding down from the ledge to stand right beside him. She reached out, resting her small hand against his sleeve, exactly as she had days ago.
"That's okay," the little girl said, her voice bright and steady. "We can start over."
Victor knelt down on one knee, bringing himself eye-level with the child. He wrapped his arms gently around her small frame, feeling the solid, living warmth of a new beginning.
"One Mississippi," Victor murmured into her soft hair.
May you like
"Two Mississippi," Maisie whispered back, hugging him tight.
And together, they counted all the way to three hundred.
