Chapter 9
Dominic
I lie in bed, my eyes closed but my mind racing. The events of that night play on a loop in my head, a nightmare I can't seem to shake. The Colombians, the ambush, the searing pain of the bullet tearing through my side. If it weren't for Sal…
I hear the door open and force my eyes open, ready to send away whoever it is. But the sight before me steals my breath away.
Gia is standing there, looking more beautiful than I remembered. Her eyes are wide with worry, her lower lip caught between her teeth. For a moment, I think I must be dreaming.
Instinctively, I try to sit up, wanting to go to her. A sharp pain in my side reminds me why that's a bad idea, and I can't suppress a wince.
"Dominic!" Gia rushes to my side, her hand gentle on my shoulder. "Don't move, you'll hurt yourself."
I settle back against the pillows, drinking in the sight of her. "I'm sorry I missed our lunch date," I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.
Gia stares at me for a moment, then lets out a surprised laugh. "Of all the things to say right now, that's what you lead with?"
I can't help but smile, even though it makes my face hurt. "Of course. I made a promise to a beautiful woman, and I hate breaking my word."
She shakes her head, but I can see the relief in her eyes. "What happened, Dominic?" she asks softly, her hand finding mine on the bedspread.
I take a deep breath, wincing at the pain it causes. "The Colombians," I start, my voice rougher than I'd like. "We had a meeting last night. That’s why I had to leave. It was supposed to be a simple negotiation, but..." I trail off, the memory of gunfire and shouting echoing in my mind.
"They ambushed us," I continue after a moment. "If it weren't for Sal, I wouldn't have made it out of there." I squeeze her hand, needing the anchor to reality. "The bullet missed anything vital, but it was close. Too close."
Gia's eyes fill with tears, and she brings our joined hands to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles. "I thought... when you didn't show up for lunch, I thought you'd changed your mind about me."
The pain in her voice cuts deeper than any bullet could. "Never," I say fiercely, tugging her closer despite the protest from my wound. "Gia, last night... what happened between us... it meant everything to me."
She searches my face, and I let her see everything – the pain, the fear, but most importantly, the depth of my feelings for her. "I wanted nothing more than to see you again," I continue. "To spend time with you, to show you that this isn't just a fling for me."
Gia's free hand comes up to cup my cheek, her touch impossibly gentle. "I was so scared when Luca told us what happened," she whispers. "I thought... I thought I might lose you before I even really had you."
I turn my head, pressing a kiss to her palm. "You've had me since the moment I saw you in that bar, Red. And it's going to take a lot more than an old feud or a few Colombians to keep me away from you."
She laughs softly, the sound music to my ears. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Part of my charm," I quip, then grow serious. "Gia, I know this isn't what you signed up for. My life, it's dangerous. Complicated. If you want to walk away, I'd understand."
Gia is quiet for a long moment, her eyes never leaving mine. Then, slowly, she leans in and presses her lips to mine in a soft, sweet kiss. When she pulls back, her eyes are shining with determination.
"I'm not going anywhere, Dominic Esposito," she says firmly.
I feel a warmth spread through my chest that has nothing to do with my injury and everything to do with the woman in front of me. "Good," I sigh, then pat the bed.
As Gia settles beside me on the bed, careful not to jostle my wound, I'm struck by a sudden clarity. The events of the past twenty-four hours have put everything into perspective. Life is short, unpredictable, and I don't want to waste another moment.
"Gia," I say, my voice soft but determined. She looks at me, her eyes full of concern and something deeper, something that gives me the courage to continue.
"I know this is crazy. We've known each other for such a short time, and our families... well, it's complicated to say the least." I take a deep breath, ignoring the twinge in my side. "But last night, when I was lying there, bleeding and not sure if I was going to make it, all I could think about was you. About how I might never see you again, never get to tell you how I feel."
Gia's eyes widen, her breath catching. "Dominic..."
I push on, afraid if I stop now, I'll lose my nerve. "I love you, Gia. I know it's fast, I know it's insane, but I do. And life's too short to waste time pretending otherwise."
I shift slightly, reaching for something in the drawer of my bedside table.
"This was my grandmother's," I say, opening the small velvet box to reveal a stunning vintage ring. "She gave it to me before she died, told me to save it for the right woman. I've been carrying it around for years, waiting. And now I know why."
Gia's eyes are filled with tears, her hand covering her mouth. I take her other hand in mine, my heart pounding.
"Gia Romano, I know we have a lot to figure out. I know it won't be easy. But I also know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, however long or short that might be. Will you marry me?"
For a moment, the world stands still. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, feel the ache in my side, but all I can focus on is Gia's face, watching as a myriad of emotions play across it.
Then, slowly, a smile breaks across her face like the sun coming out from behind clouds. "Yes," she whispers, then louder, "Yes, Dominic. Yes, I'll marry you."
I slip the ring onto her finger, my hands shaking slightly. As soon as it's on, Gia leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that's full of promise.
When we break apart, both breathless, I can't help but grin. "You know this is going to cause quite a stir, right? A Romano marrying an Esposito?"
Gia laughs, the sound pure joy. "Let them stir. We'll face it together, remember?"
"Together," I agree, pulling her close again.
As Gia settles against me, careful of my injury but unable to stop touching me, I feel a peace I've never known before. Whatever comes next – the Colombians, our families, the whole damn world – we'll face it together. And for the first time in my life, I'm not just surviving. I'm looking forward to living, to building a future with the woman I love.
It won't be easy, but nothing worth having ever is. And Gia? She's worth everything.