Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
Capri
Sitting by the pool, gazing at the ocean as the sun set, I stretched out on the lounge chair. I waved to Sebastian as he finished his nightly briefing with Atticus about the club.
Once the doctor cleared me to fly after a mild concussion, we made it back to Greece. Finally! A little longer than the five-day deadline Sebastian had set for me when I left the first time, but we were here.
I was grateful for the extra week in New York because it gave me time to work things out with my parents.
We couldn’t resolve all of our issues in seven days, and I wasn’t certain I would be able to fully forgive my dad for trying to marry me off to Christopher.
But at least he and Sebastian were no longer a heartbeat away from killing one another. Progress.
Sebastian joined me by the pool and sat on the edge of my chair.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” He kissed me, slow, sensual, and tender, making my toes curl. Even if I were mad at him for making me wait, I wouldn’t be anymore.
“You’re forgiven.” I licked my lips. “How is Atticus feeling?”
“He’s getting stronger every day.”
“Good.”
An overwhelming sense of relief blanketed me now that we weren’t in New York. Sebastian got back to his club, Atticus went back to protecting him, and I began focusing on switching my degree to fashion.
“Is Zeus still in America?” I asked.
“For a few more days,” he said.
“Business?”
“He didn’t say.” Sebastian shrugged. “I got the impression that he needed to address some of his own demons. He has an interesting past, and like me, it all started in New York.”
“Are you going to tell me about it?”
“That’s a story for another day.” He winked. “I’m sure you’ll come up with a whole set of new and complicated questions for me to answer about Zeus and his intriguing occupation.”
“Actually…” I touched his forearm, gliding my fingers along the dagger that hovered over the buildings of the city. “Are you ever going to tell me about this tattoo?”
“As I told you, when I met your father, he had found himself in some trouble with a dangerous group of men. They were in a motorcycle gang, nothing official but they were people that shouldn’t be fucked with. Of course, Leo had a knack for getting into difficult situations.”
“Why would my father get involved with those people?” I really didn’t understand why my father did most of the stuff he did. Maybe I should have asked him more questions when I was younger.
“Various reasons,” he said. “Everything Leo did back then led him to who he is today. When we started hanging out together, we were both wild and full of bad choices. It wasn’t easy, but we managed to find success in an extremely brutal life.”
“That shaped who you are too.”
“For better or worse, I am who I am.”
“I think you’re wonderful.” There wasn’t anything I would change about him.
“Back at you, baby.” He stared down at the tattoo. “We got these tattoos to remind us of where we started. The dagger represents our struggles and the things we had to do to stay alive. It seems silly now, but that’s who we were back then.”
“You both kept the tattoos even after everything that happened between you.” I set my hand on his arm. “That means something.”
“More fate?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, by keeping it, I found you, so if that was a message from the universe, it worked.” He kissed my cheek. “I hope the meaning behind the tattoos isn’t underwhelming for you.”
“You left a lot of your story out.” I arched a brow. “But that’s enough for tonight.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to go for a swim?” I asked.
“I always want to swim with you, my little shark.” He trailed his hand under my dress. “But only if we’re not wearing bathing suits.”
“Is there any other way to swim together?”
“No.” He slid his hand in his pants pocket. “But before we do that, there is something I need to do.”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember the night in front of the bakery?”
“The night we got shot at?” I parted my legs so he could sit between them and face me. “How could I forget?”
“Rewind the memory a few minutes before the gunfire erupted.” He opened his palm to reveal a sleek, black ring box. “I told you I was answering all of your questions because eventually I would have a big ask.”
“I remember.” When I focused on the box, a swarm of butterflies broke free in my stomach, fluttering across my heart. “Do you have a question for me?”
“I do.”
“Yes!” I nodded. “Yes, a thousand times.”
“Wait.” He popped open the box, and a large, sparkling diamond, resting high off the setting, was on full display. “I didn’t even ask.”
“Hurry up and ask so I can answer.”
“You’ve already answered.” He took the ring from the box and placed it on my finger. “Capri, will you marry me?”
My hand shook as I admired the ring that would symbolize our past, present, and future for the rest of my days. “Yes, Sebastian.” I stared into his strong, unwavering eyes. “There isn’t anyone else I would ever trust more than I do you.”
“You’ll be my wife?”
“I will.” I placed my hand on his perfect face. “I’ll love you forever.”
“I’m a very lucky man.” When his lips touched mine, I glided my fingers along his beard. “I love you. I always will.”
As our mouths collided, he guided me to lay on the lounge chair, covering my body with his. Hooking my leg around his hip, I gazed up at the stars as he kissed my neck. I lost my breath as his lips devoured me and his hands swept along my heated flesh.
“You were right,” he whispered. “It was fate.”
The End