Page 110 of Savage Vows

Trying to be patient, I wait for him to speak.

I’m not sure what I’m hoping for out of agreeing to see him, but my heart knows what it wants.

I love him.

Despite everything, I love a man who I didn’t think I could even care about.

But I can’t—won’t—live the life we’ve been living.

“I miss you,” he admits, locking his gaze on mine. His voice is jagged, as though it’s been dragged through glass shards.

“Matteo…”

“I can’t do this without you, Alessia. I’ve been wrong. About so much.”

My throat tightens, and I grip the stem of my glass hard, as if it’s an anchor.

“I’m sorry.”

The same words he’d used in the text.

He leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I’m sorry for everything.”

His expression is unguarded, vulnerable.

Without me asking, he lists his transgressions. “For not listening to you. For putting duty and family ahead of us. For hurting you.” His voice drops, and it becomes unsteady. “For not showing you that you mean everything to me.”

The weight of his honesty makes my heart race, and compassion swims through me. “Words are easy, Matteo.”God.Being reserved is almost impossible. “But has anything changed?”

He straightens, and his jaw tightens. “Yeah. It has.Me.”

How I ache to believe that.

“My mother taught me that family is everything. My father always said protect the family.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t fully comprehend what that really meant until I lost you.” His voice cracks. “The stronger we are together, Alessia, the better I am. The better we both are.”

I exhale shakily. “Those are beautiful words, Matteo.” But they’re not enough. “I won’t go back to the way things were before I left. I can’t.”

He nods, and his expression is fierce with resolve. “Nor should you. You deserve better.”

Then, to my utter shock, he slides out of his chair and drops to one knee. A collective hush falls over the bar. People glance in our direction, but Matteo’s focus remains entirely on me.

“I fucked up.” He seems to have no problem telling me this. I know how much that must cost him. “I left you in the darkwhen I should have been by your side, sharing everything—the burdens, the choices, the dreams. Ever since…”

His father passed.

“I’ve been selfish, Alessia. And I’ll spend my life making it right, if you let me.” He takes my hand, his touch warm and grounding. “I love you, Alessia.”

My heart is in my throat. I can’t believe this is happening.

“I want to be the man, the husband, the partner you deserve. I want to give you everything—not just my name, but my heart. All of it. I’m yours, if you’ll give me a second chance.”

Tears spill over before I can stop them. His openness, his self-reflection, lays me bare. “Being Mafia is not what I ever wanted,” I whisper. “But you—I want you. I’ve always wanted you, Matteo. But I need your heart. The part of you I’ve glimpsed but never fully had.”

“It’s yours,” he says fervently. “Every part of me is yours. Always.”

The breath I’ve been holding whooshes out.

“Put me out of my misery.” His tone is thick with emotion. “Say you’ll give me a second chance. No more keeping you in the dark. You’re my partner in everything.”

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