Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Because of this agreement?” I let out a humorless laugh. “Do they need my birth certificate too? My fucking social? Why do they need my answer right now?”
“I need it,” he growled, taking a step forward and erasing the space between us. “Not because of this agreement, but because I’m losing my mind without you, Roselyn. I need to know if you’re all in or not.”
“This is a lot,” I whispered. “This isn’t how I envisioned someone asking me to marry them.”
He glanced to the side. “We’re right next to the Empire State. People come from all over the country to propose here.”
“To propose there.” I pointed at the building. “And they usually get down on one knee, and they—”
Before I could finish my sentence, he fell to both knees, reached for my hands, and looked up at me like the fate of the world depended on my answer, like he couldn’t survive another moment without it. “Marry me.”
“Dominic.” I choked back tears. “Stand up.”
“Marry me.”
“That’s not a question.” I inhaled shakily, taking one hand from his to catch my tears before they had a chance to fall. “Please stand up.”
He stood slowly and leaned in, setting his forehead against mine. “Is it because you don’t want me or because your family hates me?”
I shut my eyes. Traditional proposals were practically fossilized these days, but I knew my father expected to be asked for my hand in marriage. I also knew he’d never say yes to Dominic. I made myself open my eyes and look at him.
“I want you,” I whispered.
His entire body seemed to sag with relief. He brought his hands to either side of my face and just looked at me for the longest moment. “Can I kiss you now?”
“I mean, I gu—"
His lips were on mine before I could finish the sentence, his low growl setting my insides on fire, his tongue taking my breath away with each stroke against mine. “God, I needed you,” he murmured against my mouth before going back in for more. I was breathless when we pulled away, my hands gripping the lapels of his jacket so tight, I was sure they’d need to be dry cleaned before he went back upstairs. He pulled me against his chest, breathing hard as he held me. I kept my eyes on the Empire State Building, wondering how many people were being proposed to right now, with the beautiful fluffy snow twinkling in their pictures. I didn’t know how long we stood there before I pulled away and looked up at him again.
“Dom.”
He cupped my face. “Yes, baby?”
“Why do you smell like a forest fire?”
The smile that spread over his face screamed danger. “I was solving a problem.”
I shook my head, took another breath, and leaned against him for another second. I did not even want to know what kind of problem-solving required a fire, especially since I knew he wasn’t burning someone’s clothes like I’d been threatening to do theoretically.
48
DOMINIC
“It’s a nice fucking space,” I said proudly.
I was standing with Rocco, Dean, Gio, and Loren in the middle of the space we were in the midst of repairing. It wasn’t very big; there was only one bar and enough room for thirty-five people, according to the fire inspector, but it was fucking badass.
“I still think we should’ve gone with the sex club they were trying to sell us,” Gio said.
“Yeah?” Rocco raised an eyebrow. “So your wife could cut your balls off in front of everyone?”
“Fuck you.” Gio laughed.
“It’s true though.” Rocco shrugged.
“You’ll need at least four bartenders to take shifts,” Loren said. “The bar is beautiful.”
I turned to it. “Dad said it was a bar on the actual Titanic.”
“Yeah right.” Rocco scoffed. “More like a Titanic-themed restaurant.”
“It’s still nice,” I said. I looked at my watch.
“You’ve looked at your watch ten times since we got here. You got somewhere to be?” Loren asked.
“Yes, actually. I have a meeting in twenty minutes.”
“A meeting,” Dean said. “You mean with Rosie’s dad, who you’re still trying to convince you’re not the piece of shit you actually are?”
“Fuck you.” I scowled. “How do you know about that?”
He shot me a look.
“Don’t you have wolves to take care of or something?”
“Hilarious, De Luca.”
“Right back at you, Russo.”
“Is her dad coming around?” Gio asked.
“No.” That was Rocco. “Mr. Vega hates our guts.”
“Good luck with that.” Loren shook his head. “Fathers-in-law are tricky.”
“Well, yours is Frankenstein’s Monster, so you’d know.” I smiled at the look he gave me, and then at the glare Gio shot me. “That’s my cue to leave.”
“Fuck you, De Luca,” Loren shouted as I walked out, laughing.
The past week had been a blur. With the Costellos officially out, we’d had to split territories with the rest of the Epcot bunch. We kept what we wanted, though, and gave them what was rightfully theirs. Joe Masseria agreed to stay out of anything he’d had his hands in before and just keep what his wife left to him by default. According to Gio, their father had promised Catalina and Emma that he’d completely gotten rid of the human trafficking ring their mother had set up. I wasn’t sure if I’d trust a man who faked his death, but it wasn’t my place to intervene. That left me with the issue of Roselyn. I hadn’t seen her in three days and I was dying. She had performances, though, and I kept telling myself that because of that, the distance was fine. It wasn’t fine. I wasn’t fine with it. Part of me wanted to show up at the ballet, carry her all the way back to my house, and lock her in there, but I was pacing myself. One thing at a time.