Epilogue
Romeo
I t’s been a month since Aurora told me she loved me. A month of having her back where she belongs, in my arms and my heart. I was ready to let her go, because after seeing five of Massimo’s men being killed, I was resolute in not bringing her any further into this darkness.
But then she gave me her heart, and with it, I’m earning back her trust. I'll do everything within my power to protect her from the ugliness of this world. We returned to Sicily a week after the attack on Elio’s place, needing a change of scenery that wasn’t a reminder of the mistakes I’d made.
Daniele is still in America, working with Massimo and Leonardo to find who tried to set up Aurora. Before I left, we determined that Mattia, Aurora’s uncle, was responsible for the bombing at the docks and at least one of the other attacks, but we’ve had no luck finding the woman Aurora confirmed went by the name Anastasia. Daniele has been keeping me updated, but there hasn’t been much progress.
I’ve spent my days since we returned showing Aurora her new home and checking in on the various operations that make up both the legal and illegal sides of the family business. It’s been good to be back here, with her by my side and a new hope for our future.
Aurora’s asleep next to me as I finish up some emails in bed. We spent the day at a private beach a short walk from the house and it was good to unwind and relax, but I could tell she was exhausted when she nearly fell headfirst into her soup at dinner.
My phone vibrates across the bedside table, and I snatch it up to stop it from waking her. Massimo’s name flashes across the screen. Closing my laptop, I set it on the table as I climb from the bed and move across the room. I only connect the call when I’m halfway down the corridor with the bedroom door closed behind me. It’s three am my time, so that makes it… nine pm his time.
“Cousin, how are you?” he slurs.
Loud music sounds in the background and I move further down the corridor as I raise my voice to be heard over the noise. “Where are you, Massimo?”
Chuckling, he replies, “At my bachelor party, believe it or not.”
I press a finger into my ear, sure I’ve misheard him. “Your what?”
“My bachelor party. I’m getting married, Rome.” Disbelief drowns his words, as if he can’t quite believe it’s happening. You and I both, cousin .
Tugging on the ear my phone isn’t pressed to, I try to hide the confusion I’m feeling when I reply, “Congratulations. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“I’m not.” He sighs. The music dies down and I imagine him heading to his office. He’s got to be in his club; it’s weirdly his safe space. “It’s a long story, but someone owed me and now I have a wife. Well, I’m going to have a wife.”
Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
A groove forms in my brow as his words register. “Someone owes you and you’re going to have a wife you don’t want?”
I imagine him rolling his eyes when he speaks, as if the answer to my question is obvious. “I always collect on my debts, Rome. He owed me, and after some persuasion, he offered her to me.”
I rub my hand over my forehead. “And what exactly will you do with her?”
“I don’t fucking know. Look, I called to see if you’ll come for the wedding?”
My eyes widen, and I blow out a breath. I never thought I’d see the day. “When is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Chuckling, I reply, “How can you not know? Don’t people usually have a bachelor party when there’s a set date?”
“Fine.” Massimo pouts. “It’s more of a ‘drowning my sorrows’ kind of party.”
Shaking my head, I pull my hand down over my jaw. This is Massimo to a tee . Without the stress of a war, he’s letting loose and back to his old reckless behavior. “When you sort out a date, let me know. I’m sure we can make it over.”
“Thanks, Rome. Look, I have to go, Candy’s just arrived, but… I’ll catch you later.”
Disconnecting the call, I return to the bedroom, rubbing at my eyelids. I never thought I’d see the day when Massimo Marino would call me to say he’s getting married.
My eyes land on Aurora as I step into the room, the soft glow of the bedside light illuminating her beauty. All this talk of marriage… One day, I’ll give her the wedding she’s always dreamed of and then I’ll give her anything else she asks for.
When I climb under the covers, Aurora snuggles into me, throwing her leg over mine. Her face is upturned and I bend down to dust a kiss over her lips.
Sleep fills her voice when she asks, “Who was on the phone, amore ?”
“Go back to sleep, mia amato . It was just Massimo.”
She leans up on her elbow, a hand pressed to her chest to keep the sheet from falling. Her hair hangs in a curtain around her face as she looks down at me, a furrow in her brow. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I smooth her hair back, a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. “Believe it or not, but he’s getting married.”
Her eyes blow wide and the sheet falls to pool around her waist. I can’t stop my eyes from dropping to her bare breasts, the globes begging to be touched.
“He is? Wow, never thought that would happen. I thought we’d be married before him.”
My eyes dart to hers as I sit up. “ Sposami ?”
Aurora tilts her head, her teeth working the fullness of her lower lip. She drops her eyes to her lap before looking at me through her lashes. “I… What does that mean?”
Clearing my throat, I pick up her hand, turning it over to drop a gentle kiss into the palm. “Marry me.”
Her jaw goes slack before she catches herself and she looks away. “Are you only asking because Massimo is getting married?”
Cazzo .
“Never, amore . Never. It was always my plan. Make you my wife and fill you with my babies. This has nothing to do with Massimo. I just didn’t know if you were ready for that next step. I know I still have work to do.”
Biting her bottom lip, Aurora climbs into my lap, cupping my face. In between kisses, she says, “I think I’ve been ready since the day I met you.” Pulling away, she swipes her thumb over my bottom lip before adding, “Well, since the day you broke into my apartment. I just didn’t know it. You saved me, Rome. You took all of my broken pieces and put them back together. It would make me the happiest woman on Earth to be your wife.”
I capture her lips with mine and roll us until she’s underneath me. We spend hours getting lost in each other, declaring our love with each kiss.
The End