Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“Around what?”
“You belong to me. You’re mine. The whole world needs to see that. Liliana Lopez, will you marry me?”
My soul soars at his words, turning the tattoo into something special. I was marked for him. I’m his queen, and he’ll never let anything happen to me.
“Yes,” I cry out, no longer having to be quiet.
Nick knows.
Damien beat Gabriel.
The tattoo doesn’t mean a freaking thing anymore, except as a target for Damien’s love.
Love.
Now I’m really crying, sobbing, as Damien slips the ring onto my finger and stands, pulling me into his arms. I collapse against him, wrapping my arms around him and pressing my face into his chest.
It’s like all the pain, passion, worry, and heartache come spilling out, all the wondering if it would ever be all right.
It will. I know it now. It always will.
“I love you so much,” I say, looking up at him, the world made blurry with sun and happy tears.
“I love you, too,” he says. “I’ll never stop, Liliana. Not for a second. I’m only ever going to keep loving you more.”
“I’m ready. I’m ready for everything. Together.”
“Together,” he whispers, leaning down to kiss me.
THREE WEEKS LATER
Liliana
I stand at the window of the penthouse, the phone in my hand, still struggling to believe I’m here.
In Damien’s penthouse, our penthouse, since I’ve already moved in.
Uncle Nick has a new place in the city, a nicer neighborhood with a doorman. He’s working at a security company, a legitimate business Damian has a stake in. He’s putting his skills to use in a way he never has since his military days.
“I love you too, Uncle Nick,” I say, then hang up.
We’ve been chatting about the wedding, his new job, and Damien’s further efforts to make more of their businesses – our businesses – legitimate.
I’m not Cartel anymore. I’m going to be the Bratva queen.
But really… I’m just me, and it makes me want to sing in pure love when I realize that’s all Damien wants. Just me. It still blows my mind. We’re moving past the darkness, the regret, and the pain of the past. We’re moving into the future.
We’re going to live in a world of light now.
My belly warbles when I hear footsteps behind me.
A world of light.
The past three weeks have been just that, most evenings spent together, whole days passing with us in bed. We eat together, sleep together, breathe together. We hold each other and talk about the future.
We lose ourselves in feral passion, unable to stop.
Change doesn’t necessarily mean bad, but it’s still a big step.
Relax. We both want this.
I say the words in my mind as I turn.
Damien walks over to me in his button-up, sleeves rolled up to show his firm forearms. “I’ve got some good news,” he says, leaning down to give me a kiss hello.
I kiss him in return, the passion making it linger, the pressure firmer.
“What?” I ask, letting out a shaky breath.
“The FBI has picked up Gabriel. Apparently, an anonymous source had been keeping surveillance on him for years.”
He trails off, throwing me a wink, and I get it. Damien and Max. He told me about their plan. To frame Gabriel if they ever needed to punish him or make sure he stayed away.
“The Cartel has nobody to blame. Nobody knows where the evidence came from.”
I stand on my tiptoes, kissing him on the cheek.
“That’s great, Damien. I’m so happy. I hated him. Hate him.”
I catch sight of my tattoo as I lower my hands from his shoulder, a flash of red.
“I have some news too. Since we’re sharing.”
He tilts his head, hands on my arms, with kind eyes and a smile, ready to accept anything.
My heart is fluttering quicker than when he asked me to marry him. My core screams at me to spit it out.
“I’m pregnant,” I say in a rush. “I did the tests today. Multiple. I wanted to be sure. And I am. Sure and pregnant.”
My words come rushing out, collapsing into each other. It’s impossible to keep my calm when he lets out a whoop of delight, wrapping his arms around me and spinning me around.
I squeal out in bliss, the world spinning quicker and quicker.
“You silly thing,” he says softly, kissing my forehead once he sets me down. “What were you worried about? This is it, Liliana, our future. Right here.”
He slides his hand down my body, laying it atop my belly. There’s a time when a gesture like that would’ve made me self-conscious, but not anymore, never again.
Not with my man.
I lay my hand atop his.
“I’m not worried about anything, not now that I’ve seen you smile, Damien.”
He leans down, smiling even wider as his lips move toward mine. I clutch onto the back of his neck, pulling him closer.
Life is only going to get better from here.
It’s me and Damien and our children.