Page 124 of The Proposal

“Where are we going?”

“To get a better view.”

“Of what?” I ask because when I look ahead, all I see is complete darkness.

He comes to a stop, guiding me to stand in front of him as his arms snake around my middle from behind. As the night wore on, it cooled down considerably, so being wrapped in the warmth of his body is a welcome reprieve from the cold.

“Patience,Bellezza,” he answers, resting his chin on the top of my head.

“Should I be scared?”

“Of what? I will always protect you, Arabella. You have nothing to fear when you’re with me.”

My eyes strain in the pitch black as I try to see whatever it is I’m supposed to. I’m perplexed as to why he brought me out here.

Suddenly, Dante covers my eyes with his hands. “Ten,” he whispers into my ear, and even when his words are spoken softly, that deep baritone voice of his sends shivers coursing down my spine. “Nine, eight, seven, six, five …” He continues the countdown, and I can hear the others in the distance doing the same.

It’s not until he reaches “One” that he finally removes his hands from my eyes. “Happy New Year,amore mio.”

The loud, sudden crack in the distance makes my heart leap into my throat, but when the fireworks light up the night sky with an explosion of colour, a huge smile curves on my lips.

I’ve only seen fireworks on television, never in real life. I’m frozen in place as my breath catches with every eruption. I’m utterly spellbound by the spectacle.

The vibrant golds, reds, blues, and greens illuminating the sky make me feel giddy inside, like a little kid. The sharp scent of sulphur mixed with the crisp night air and the thunderous crackle of each loud burst ringing in my ears has my heart racing with a mix of wonder and excitement.

Within a matter of minutes, the show is over, and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. I turn in my husband’s arms, reaching up to cup his face.

“Buon Anno(Happy New Year)!” I say.

“Buon Anno, Bellezza.”

“Ti amo(I love you), Mr Mancini.”

“I love you too, Mrs Mancini, so fucking much.”

His kiss is rough, raw, and desperate when his lips meet mine. And if we didn’t have an audience off in the distance, I’m pretty sure I know how this would end up … the two of us making love right here, on the grass under the stars.

We are both panting when our mouths finally part. He reaches for my hand, and as we return to the others, he says, “Let’s get rid of everyone so I can take you to bed and spend the first day of this year inside your beautiful body.”

My face flushes red when our guests clap and cheer as we approach. I hope it has more to do with the fireworks they just witnessed than the heated kiss we shared.

I follow Dante’s lead as he goes around wishing everyone a Happy New Year. He shakes his men’s hands and kisses their wives on both cheeks as he extends his hopes for a prosperous year ahead.

Seeing how awestruck some of them are towards him is heartwarming and humbling. They shower him with praise and gratitude for including them in our celebrations tonight … like it was an honour just to be here.

To them, he’s not just a man; he’s a king, a figure to be revered—almost like a celebrity or a god—his every move commanding respect and admiration.

Witnessing how thisFamigliaworks, as opposed to how my father ruled back in Italy, makes me see the Cosa Nostra in a different light.

Dante’s leadership isn’t about fear and control. It has a true family dynamic where each person plays their part, and the bond between them runs deeper than mere obligation.There’s an undeniable sense of unity, which is a contrast to the cold and distant intimidation I witnessed growing up.

I can barely keep my eyes open by the time the last guests leave. Chloe disappeared with Giovanni as soon as the fireworks ended, but Alexander remained with us.

Tonight, I saw a different side of my brother-in-law. He was more relaxed, and once he let his guard down, I actually think he had a good time. I saw him laughing with his brother and the other men on more than one occasion.

We all briefly congregate in the kitchen, reminiscing about the shenanigans from tonight. I find myself wishing we could do this more often. This bond and sense of family is exactly what Lucia and I have been missing.

We didn’t grow up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was always just the two of us. But now, seeing how deep these connections run, I want that for my kids. I want it for Lucia and me too. A place where we truly belong, where family isn’t just blood but something stronger.

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