Page 19 of Big Beefy Kingpin

“No, not that,” she says, pulling back and meeting my gaze. “Tired of running and hiding from ghosts.”

“You don’t have to run anymore, Amore. You have me now.”

Her lips tremble as she draws me back into her embrace. “I do. And I love you”

Mine!

I tighten my arms around her, realizing that there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her.

“I’ll love you forever,” I whisper into her hair.

Epilogue

Maeve

One year later

Breathe, Maeve.

Slow deep breaths…

Fuck! How can something as simple as breathing – something I’ve done a million times over – fail me?

“This dress is too tight, Scar,” I whine to my friend who’s scrolling through her phone, no doubt texting with her husband and ignoring me, her friend in distress. “Scar!”

“You’re overreacting,” my best friend says, waving me off. “The dress has already been altered three times.”

“Well, I am not overreacting, and… will you stop and listen?”

Scarlett lifts her deep hazel eyes to me. “Babe, you are fine. You’re just anxious about getting married. Remember what you told me when I was freaking out on my wedding day?”

“No,” I say, hysteria rising in my voice.

“Take a deep breath,” she says, dropping her phone on the bed and turning to me. “Remember what you told me when I was bawling my eyes out in the bathroom? You said weddings are for the family and to let them have all the fun they want but the best part is that I get to leave with the man I love and spend the rest of my life with him.”

At her words, I feel a modicum of calm take over and the panic leaves my chest, creating more room in my dress for me to breathe.

“You won’t admit it, but I know you are scared of two mafia leaders being in the same room together but that’s for them to worry about, okay?”

I nod at her words, relieved that she can tell what’s going through my mind. I take a step forward to hug her when her phone pings with a message and just like that, she’s distracted again.

“Oh, he’s here,” she says excitedly and I roll my eyes.

I watch in horror as my best friend gathers her things to leave me to be with her husband. “Wait, Scar… you can’t leave…”

“Hey, it’s okay,” she says, walking over and pecking my cheek. “I can’t believe you’re getting married to a real crime boss. He’ll make you happy, I just know it.”

And just like that, my best friend flees the room, leaving me staring at the door in confusion. When the knob turns, a few minutes after she’s left, I expect her to walk back in but my breath catches when I notice the massive hand when the door is pushed open.

“Scarlet told me that my fiancée was freaking out and I should, quote, make sure she doesn’t literally crawl her way up the wall…”

His deep familiar voice sends warmth flowing over my skin.

“Roman?” I whisper when he walks into the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Hey, Angel.”

I rake my eyes over him. Running my eyes from his hair, in a tight ponytail, to the delicious bulging muscles under his tuxedo.

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