Page 123 of The Proposal

She draws back and looks up at me with tear-stained cheeks and so much hope in her eyes. “Do you think he’ll change his mind one day?”

I wince because I don’t want to give her false hope. “I don’t know Lu-Lu. It’s obvious he cares for you. He killed a man simply because he hurt you.”

She lets out a breathy sigh as a small smile curves the corners of her lips. “I know, that was so cool.”

I gasp. “It was barbaric. That is not how civilised people behave.”

“Because we aren’t civilised, we’re Cosa Nostra, Bell-Bell. Besides, you don’t seem to have an issue with Dante ending Papa’s life.”

“That’s because he didn’t.”

Her big brown eyes get bigger. “Papa’s still alive?”

“No.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I ended Papa’s life, not Dante. I gave him the same fate he gave Mamma.”

She gasps. “You set him on fire?”

“Can we not talk about this now?” I ask as I release her and head towards the kitchen. “The meat will be ready soon. I have to get the rest of the food outside.”

“For the record,” she says, falling into step beside me. “I’m proud of you for what you did.”

“I ended a man’s life, Lucia, our Papa no less; that’s nothing to be proud of. I simply did what needed to be done.”

I place my hand over my mouth in an attempt to muffle my yawn, but of course, my husband notices.

“Are you okay,Bellezza?” he asks, lifting his arm and wrapping it around my shoulder as he tugs my body closer to kiss the side of my head.

I hear one of the women across from us release a soft, breathy sigh. Tonight he’s been his usual hands-on, affectionate self. While the other wives have all been really nice and treated me with respect, I can’t help but notice the subtlehint of jealousy in some of their eyes as they watch the attention my husband showers on me.

Dante doesn’t need to put on any false bravado. He’s secure enough in his own skin to let his softer side show. It doesn’t diminish his status as a feared leader; if anything, it only makes him more powerful.

“I’m just a little tired, but I’m fine. It’s been a long day.”

“Do you want me to send everyone home so we can go to bed?”

“No. I want to see in the New Year with you.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

The coming year will be a brand-new start for us. I no longer have my father hanging over my head. Lucia is here, safe and sound, and in a matter of months, we’ll welcome our first child into the world.

“Okay.” He leans in to peck my lips, and when he draws back, he runs his knuckle down the side of my face, which garners an “Aww”from someone nearby. “If you change your mind, just say the word, and I’ll shut this party down.”

“I won’t change my mind.”

“Good, because I’ve organised a surprise for you, and I’d hate for you to miss it.”

My eyes widen. “What kind of surprise?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

A few minutes before midnight, Dante abruptly stands, grabs my hand and leads me away from our table of guests. At first, I think we are heading inside, but after we exit the pool gate, he turns in the opposite direction and takes us further into the backyard.

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