Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57707 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57707 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
She gasps, staring at the elegant princess-cut diamond, the white-gold band glinting in her eyes.
“Are you—”
“Don’t ask me if I’m sure,” I growl. “I was sure the second I saw you. Marry me, Maya. No more messing around. No more doubt. No more pain.” I take her hand, holding it passionately. “Marry me.”
Finally, after a pause that has me wondering if I’ve made a mistake, tears make her eyes glisten. She offers me her hand, nodding, clearly too overwhelmed with warmth and happiness to speak.
Once I’ve slid the ring onto her finger, she leaps at me, her hands roaming over my body. We don’t need to get undressed the second time.
EPILOGUE
MAYA
Six Weeks Later
Istand at the edge of the grave, feeling the wind cut through my coat. The sky is gray, matching the weight in my chest. As they lower Mom’s casket into the ground, it feels like a piece of me is going with her. The solemn words feel like a distant hum, drowned out by my beating heart.
Tristan stands beside me, his hand firm on my shoulder. I lean into him, seeking strength. I’m on autopilot, just trying to survive this moment.
Tristan guides me to a quieter spot under a large oak tree as the crowd thins out. The leaves rustle above, a reminder that life goes on, even in the face of loss. I wipe my eyes, trying to find the words that have been trying to burst out of me since the night before. I take a deep breath, and, finally, the words tumble out.
“Tristan, I’m pregnant.” The shock on his face mirrors my own disbelief. We stare at each other momentarily, the weight of the news settling in alongside our grief.
Finally, he firmly takes my hands in his. “Maya, listen to me,” he begins. His voice is rough but filled with a determination that cuts through my agony. “Life’s a fight, and it’s damn hard sometimes, but love … love is what makes it worth it. Even when everything seems hopeless, love is what pulls us through. This baby, our baby, is a piece of your mom living on. It’s a new beginning. We’re going to get through this. You hear me? Together.”
I nod, a flood of hope and happiness rushing into me. I don’t even care if I should be crying sad tears. I let the happy ones flow. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight. “We’re going to make it, Maya—for your mom, us, and this baby. We’re going to build a life together. Everything—the sanctuary, your career, our lives—will be perfect. I promise.”
I bury my face in his chest, letting his strength flow into me. For the first time since losing Mom, I feel light in the darkness. Love can come from hopelessness. With Tristan by my side, I know we’ll find our way.
So much has happened. We’ve got so much fighting left to do, but it’s worth it for each other. It always will be.
EPILOGUE
TRISTAN
Four Months Later
Don’t cry, don’t cry, I tell myself as Maya walks up the aisle, led by her friend Riley. Her dress hugs her curves perfectly, simple but elegant, with a lace top and a flowing skirt. Her dark hair is styled in loose waves, framing her face beautifully. She looks incredibly radiant with every step.
My heart pounds as I watch her. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.
From the crowd, Raffie watches, thicker than the last time I saw him, healthier. He’s been in rehab for the past three months. He wants to put the Mob life behind him, and I’m willing to be there for him to help him.
Tank isn’t here. He was lucky he wasn’t there that night when I took out the heads of the Trentini Family and their lackeys. Thanks to me, he got away with his life and could wash his hands of the Mob. In return, he made the charges against me disappear, but some wounds just won’t heal. Some betrayals just can’t be forgotten. That doesn’t matter anymore, though.
As Maya gets closer, the tears become harder to hold back. Her bump is showing slightly, a sign of the life we will begin together.
Sure, it hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to sell the land I bought the home on and then start renting another space. Plus, I’m working two jobs, and Maya is working like hell, too, but it’s all led here to this perfect moment. A fresh start for us all, away from the Mob and that life.
Soon, it becomes too much to handle. The warm, happy tears start flowing down my face when the music swells. Loki lets out an eager yapping sound from the back of the ceremony room.
Maya gives me a look, speaking over the last notes of the music. “Sounds like the ring bearer is excited, huh?”