Chapter 31
“Oh my God, she’s calling again.”
The sharp electric notes of my ringtone clashed with the warm, rich sound of La Tosca playing over the kitchen speakers.
Seeing my mother’s face pop up on the screen, I instinctively pushed the phone away. It skidded over the counter tiles, stopping only inches from the stove where Dorian was busy making dinner.
Even though it had been over a month since the FBI had listened to Hollis’ taped confession and officially cleared me of all wrongdoing in Deena’s murder, my family had only started reaching out to me a few days ago.
It had started simply enough with a handful of calls from my cousins. Apparently, the bureau had given them my number.
After accepting their calls, the floodgates opened. My phone rang non-stop. Aunts, uncles, friends, and relatives I hadn’t seen in years—suddenly, all of them couldn’t wait to talk to me.
Some were apologetic, swallowing their pride as they begged my forgiveness for ever believing I could have committed such a horrendous crime. Other conversations were far more difficult to sit through as I listened to people awkwardly ramble about how they’d never liked or trusted Hollis to begin with.
In both cases, I was careful to keep the conversations short. As friendly and contrite as everyone sounded on the phone, deep down, I knew their words weren’t for my benefit. What they were really doing was assuaging their guilt for being so quick to throw me under the bus.
But while I sympathized with the more distant branches of my family tree, the thought of having to endure that kind of mea culpa from my own parents made me sick to my stomach.
Dorian turned away from the Cacio e Pepe he was finishing just long enough to glance at my phone.
“You can’t put off talking to her forever,” he said the moment it stopped ringing.
He turned back to our dinner, giving the pan one last toss to completely coat the pasta inside in the thick, creamy sauce before taking it off the heat and pulling down some plates.
“I don’t see why not.” Grabbing hold of the open wine bottle in front of me, I refilled my glass. “They’re the ones who went on television to say they never wanted to talk to me again.”
“And I’m sure your mother is calling to say how sorry she is about that.”
That was exactly what I was afraid of.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to hear that right now,” I told him honestly. Listening to their apologies was the first step on the road to forgiveness, and I wasn’t there just yet. “Maybe someday I will be, but not today. If they’re truly remorseful, then they’ll understand that.”
With his back to me, Dorian nodded as he picked up the long tendrils of pasta with tongs and placed them in a perfect swirl on the plate. “I only hope it doesn’t take too long.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m hoping you’ll have news to tell them soon,” he said, finishing the dish by sprinkling freshly ground black pepper over the top. “The kind people usually like to share with their whole family.”
My brows pulled together as I sipped my Pinot Grigio. “What are you talking about?”
I blinked in confusion as Dorian finally turned around, plates in hand…until my eyes spotted the small black box perched on the top of one of the mounds of pasta.
My hands instantly shot to my face, covering my mouth.
“I suppose it doesn’t technically have to be your father,” he said, gently placing the dish down in front of me before dropping to one knee. “But I’m guessing you’ll want someone to walk you down the aisle.”
I couldn’t breathe.
Was this actually happening?
“Dorian…I…I…” I wasn’t sure what to say.
Fortunately, he did.
“Kiera, I can’t imagine a world where I fall asleep at night, and you’re not beside me. Where I wake up, and you’re not there,” he said. “I know I’m not a hero?—”
“Stop,” I said, just like I did every time he tried to describe himself as a one-dimensional villain instead of the gloriously complicated man I knew him to be.
“—but being with you makes me feel human. It makes me feel…”
He paused, searching for the right word.
But I didn’t need to go looking for it. I knew it all along. From the first moment I’d looked up into those fathomless blue eyes.
“Complete,” I finished for him. “It makes you feel complete.”
He nodded. “How did you know?”
“Because that’s how I feel, too.”
He plucked the black box off the top of the long noodles, opening it to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
“So, is that a yes?” For the first time ever, he sounded nervous. “Will you marry me, Kiera? Will you be my bride?”
Oh my God.
“Yes! Of course, I’ll marry you.”
There was no answer. There would never be anyone other than him.
The corners of his mouth curled up in true happiness as he slipped the gold ring onto my left hand. The moment it was on, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him hard.
When he finally pulled back, humor sparkled in his eyes. “Do you want to call your mother back now?” he asked with a laugh.
I blinked, thinking for the first time how scandalized my parents were going to be when they found out I was marrying into the mob.
“Oh, my family is not going to like this,” I said with an evil giggle.
“That’s okay,” Dorian said with all the confident swagger I had come to love in him. “You’re a D’Angelo now. We don’t have to like anyone.”
Welcome to the Cold Blood Empire!
Thank You for reading Book 1
The Wages of Sin
Gabriel’s Book