Page 116 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

“I’m so sorry, Raven… for not communicating with you… for letting your mother’s death affect our relationship,” he says, his voice cracking with emotion. “I never meant to leave you. I never meant to hurt you.”

The pain in his eyes intensifies and I don’t think my heart can take it anymore. He’d been suffering just as much as I was… he’s still my dad alright, no matter what.

Unable to contain myself any longer, I step forward and wrap my arms around his bony frame. “Dad...” I whisper.

He hugs me tight, and before we know it, the weight of our emotions takes over, leaving us both in tears. Somehow, it still feels surreal that he’s here, and I cling to him even more. I’d always thought Mother would be unhappy with him…with me, but now I can picture her smiling at us.

Our tears subside after a few minutes, and I catch a glimpse of Ezra standing off to the side, watching us with an unreadable expression.

Our eyes meet, and I see his lips move silently, “I love you.”

I catch the words and a smile breaks through my tears.

I whisper back, “I love you, too.”

Chapter thirty-eight

Ezra

The cool night air brushes against my skin as I stand nervously on the dark rooftop of the hotel. The moon reflects off the rose petals scattered around me, with the fake candles set up everywhere. I feel my heart racing and butterflies flutter in my tummy. Feelings I never had in the past God-knows-how-many-years before Raven stepped into my life.

I glance over at the big banner hiding in the darkness, barely making out the words that might change my life. Then, the door to the rooftop creaks open, and I hold my breath as Raven steps onto the rooftop, Harper trailing beside her. The door closes softly behind them.

Raven’s eyes scan the darkness, her voice breaking the silence. “Why’s it so dark up here?”

“Yeah, what’s with the lights?” Harper echoes. “This is probably how fancy hotels do things,” she quickly adds.

I grit my teeth, hoping Harper doesn’t mess this up. I’ve been planning this night for two weeks, every detail meticulously thought out. She’s supposed to be helping me.

“Of all your hotels, how’d you end up with a dinner in one with no lights?” Raven sounds slightly annoyed as they move forward.

Right on cue, the candles flicker to life, illuminating the rooftop. The romantic scene we’ve worked hours to set up comes into view: roses scattered between glowing candles, and at the center of it all, the massive banner behind me with those heartwarming words I spent time crafting.

Raven, standing as beautiful as ever in a sleek evening gown that gently reveals her growing baby bump, halts in her tracks. Her eyes widen in shock, her gaze locked on the banner.

I read the words aloud. “You’re the missing piece I didn’t know I needed. You came into my life and gave it meaning, Raven. With you, I feel like a brand new person, and with you, everything feels right. I love you more than words can say, Raven Nightshade.”

I take steps toward her and wrap my hand around her waist. Harper squeals beside her, but Raven stays frozen, her lips parted in disbelief.

Her hair cascades down her shoulders, gently flowing with the breeze as she glances between the banner and me. The red gown hugs her curves perfectly.

Fuck, she’s beautiful. My heart skips a beat at the sight… the sight of it all.

The distant hum of a helicopter reaches us, growing louder as it approaches. I glance at my watch and nod— right on time.

I pull back and turn slightly to catch Elio in the cockpit, smirking as he gives me a quick salute. The helicopter passes overhead, trailing a banner behind it that reads, ‘Raven Nightshade,Will You Marry Me?’

Her gasp fills the air as she looks at me. Her hand flies to her mouth, her eyes glassy. “Ezra…”

I don’t waste any more time. Taking out the ring box from my pocket, I drop to one knee. She’s taking slow, tentative steps toward me when I ask, “Raven, will you do me the honor of being married to me now and for the rest of our lives?”

The world seems to stop as my question lingers in the air. Slowly, my heart picks up a harsh pace but there’s no time for fear to creep in when she dashes toward me, throwing her arms around my neck.

“Yes!” she cries, tears flowing down her beautiful face. “Yes, Ezra, I’ll marry you.”

Harper claps and cheers in the background while I focus on Raven. I hold her tight, my heart swelling with joy. Indeed, in this moment, I feel like I found my missing piece. We break apart, and our eyes lock as the world around us fades away.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment,” I whisper, placing my hand gently on her belly, feeling the warmth radiate from beneath her dress. “I can’t wait to meet our little ones.”

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