21. #2
“I guess if I’m going to call you my son-in-law some day, you should at least call me Rico.”
I nodded as my entire body seemed to relax. Even though the man probably wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if he thought that was what was needed, he was accepting me into his family for now just like my family was doing with his.
I’d never been so nervous in my life, but I knew Constance and our future were worth it.
◆◆◆
STAN
As I walked outside, I took a look around at the chaos and smiled when I saw my dad throw the football right before my brother, Nicky, tackled him. They rolled twice before they sprawled out next to each other, laughing too hard to even see if the pass had been successful.
I realized it was when I heard yelling from the other end of the makeshift football field where my little brother Rory was doing a touchdown dance like he was an NFL player.
Rin’s papa and then his uncle, Wrath, high-fived Rory before he sprinted down the field with Vigo and Freddy to rub it in my dad’s face.
I couldn’t help but get teary-eyed when I realized that this was the first time Rory and Freddy had ever gotten to play like this with my dad.
It was something me, Nicky, and Vigo had done in our back yard a million times before we moved to the Manhattan penthouse.
Even though Central Park was right across the street, none of my family was able to enjoy it like everyone else seemed to do.
In the last few days, my family had seen a side of my dad that they hadn’t experienced in years, if ever.
It was wonderful and sad at the same time.
Nicky and Vigo probably had some memories of my dad before he was surrounded by guards and hounded by so many people, but I knew Freddy and Rory didn’t.
I was glad that they’d have this memory to look back on and hoped there would be plenty of opportunities for them to make more just like it now that I had made friends with such a wonderful and accepting family.
I let my eyes roam over the others scattered around and saw Avi and Sho sitting near Rin’s dad while Ciro caught up with some of Dad’s guards as well as Park and Sully who seemed to fit right in with everyone.
Bex was talking to Rin’s aunts - Phoebe, Katrine, Sabine, Val, Freya, and Sin.
Val’s sister, Clover, was laying on a blanket in the grass talking to Pepper, Charlotte’s daughter, while her husband, Mayne, and his friend Cas cheered the guys on from the sidelines.
The two men were enjoying their roles as impromptu referees and were having just as much fun shouting insults and directions as the other uncles seated around the yard.
The rest of the men and women, mostly Rin’s cousins, were spread out in the grass, laughing and talking as some of them enjoyed a second, or maybe even third, plate of food.
There were so many people relaxing and having fun that it was hard to believe this was a last-minute gathering. A simple text from Rin had turned into a delicious dinner and hours of laughter and conversation.
Rin spotted me and said something to his cousin, Parker, before he jogged my way. I took in the beauty that was Rin Martin, from his gorgeous smile to his built legs and the many and varied tattoos in between.
“What’cha doin’, pretty lady?” Rin asked as he slowed and walked the last few feet.
“I went in to grab something, but then I was taken hostage by Grim and forced to rub his belly until he gave me permission to leave.”
“He’s been kind of needy lately. I feel bad for leaving him alone so much.”
“Do you think Grim would like it at my house?” I asked.
“As long as he has his favorite plate and servants at his whim, I think he’d probably be just fine.” Rin narrowed his eyes and asked, “Are you plotting a catnapping?”
“I was thinking about asking him to move in.”
“Now I’m jealous of my cat.”
“I suppose you could move in, too, if you think that would make him more comfortable.”
“How kind of you,” Rin said as he pulled me into his arms.
“It makes sense, don’t you think?”
“For me to move in?” Rin asked. “I feel like we missed a step somewhere.”
“We did?” I was suddenly flustered because this was not how I had planned to approach Rin about moving in together. The fact that he didn’t seem eager was worrying me.
Maybe it was too soon. What if he thought I was moving too fast? What if . . .
“I need to tell you something very important before we discuss what comes next.”
Trying to lighten the mood now that I was freaking out, I asked, “What’s that? Do you have some weird habit I don’t know about yet?”
“I have an addiction.”
“What do you mean?”
“To you. I’m addicted to your smile, your laughter, and the way you react when I kiss you right here,” Rin said before he leaned down and nibbled on my neck below my ear. I shivered, and he said, “I didn’t realize goosebumps were sexy until I met you.”
“You’re so weird,” I whispered, completely enthralled with what his lips were doing on my neck.
Rin lifted his head and stared into my eyes before he said, “I’m in love with you, Constance Romano.”
My heart started racing, and I gasped before I said, “I love you too.”
Rin’s kiss curled my toes, just like every one before it had, and the sounds of the people around us disappeared as I got lost in the feeling of Rin’s body so close to mine.
We were breathless when Rin finally pulled his mouth from mine and said, “I’d love to move in with you.”
“You would?” I croaked. I cleared my throat before I asked, “Is that the step we missed?”
“That was one of them, but there’s one more.”
“There is?”
“I need to ask you something important before we go any further.” Rin put his hands on my shoulders and took a step back before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. My hands immediately went to my mouth and tears filled my eyes as Rin got down on one knee and reached for my hand.
“Constance, I promise to love you until my dying breath and then find you in the afterlife so we can spend eternity together.” I heard a sob and realized it had come from me.
More tears flowed when Rin kissed my knuckles, but I broke into a beaming smile when he said, “Will you be my wife and make me the luckiest man on earth?”
“Yes!”
Rin slipped the ring on my finger and then stood before he picked me up, his lips meeting mine in a fiery kiss that meant more than any we’d ever shared before. He spun us around, and I leaned my head back to laugh at the sky as I thought about how much my life had changed in the last year.
I had left my Manhattan castle as a heartbroken woman and then found my prince in the mountains of Colorado where I had met friends who were quickly becoming like family and welcomed my own relatives into their ranks.
When I heard the hoots and whistles of everyone, I turned to find my father standing between both of Rin’s, cheering and applauding with everyone else.
Even from here, I could see the love and emotion on their faces and could almost guarantee that they were fighting back the same happy tears I had coursing down my cheeks.
As I settled on my feet, I rested my hand on Rin’s cheek and burst out laughing when I got a closer look at my engagement ring. There were three connected diamonds with a smattering of diamonds above them.
“Is that a . . . “
“I’m turning a mafia princess into my queen, and every queen deserves a crown.”
“God, I love you, Rin Martin!”
“I love you too. Forever.”