Gian (Trassato Crime Family #1)(70)

He halted mid-step, glancing at me over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I wanted to let you know you’re worth it. You’re worth everything. I didn’t mean what I said that night at Carmine’s, and I um…” I licked my lips, waiting, hesitating, not knowing if I should continue. Was I too late? He didn’t say he missed me. He said his mom and sister missed me.

His face was blank.

“I still love you.”

“You do?” His hands in his pockets, he turned to face me.

“I do.” He didn’t respond right away, so I kept rambling. “I didn’t mean what I said that night. It was stupid and hurtful. I mean, I don’t like what you do, that much is true. But I still want you in my life. I know there’s chance you’ve moved on, and you’re done with me…maybe we could still be friends?”

He sighed, and his body sagged, drawing attention to the shadows under his eyes. “Is that what you want? To be friends and nothing else?”

I dropped my arms, and the flowers brushed the side of my pants. “I’ll take whatever you’re offering. It’s up to you. I screwed up and didn’t fight for us when it counted.” I pushed my hair away from my face. “For what it’s worth, I really thought I was doing the right thing.”

He grabbed my hand and knitted our fingers together. “And what was that?”

“I was ashamed of my family, and I felt guilty for putting you in a position where you had to choose between your family and me. I refused to let you sacrifice anything for me.”

He raised his eyebrows. “So you made the choice for me?”

I dropped my gaze to the floor. “I guess so.”

“Well, you chose wrong.”

“I-I did?”

“I love you, Evie. I would’ve found a way to make things work. Your dad’s demands were just that: demands. There’s always room for negotiation. You walked away without giving us a chance to fix things.”

“What now?”

“You tell me. The ball is in your court.”

I tilted my head to the side. “It is?”

“What are you going to do, sweetheart? Are you going to fight for us, or are you going to run away again?”

I didn’t have to think about it. I knew exactly what I wanted. “I want to be with you. I want to fight for us. I want a second chance, one that starts with truths instead of lies. Life instead of death. Love instead of fear.”

A huge grin spread across his face. “Thank God,” he murmured. Then, his lips crashed against mine.

“Just so you know,” he whispered next to my ear, a few minutes later. “I won’t let you go again.”

“I don’t want you to.”

I didn’t, because Gian was my present, my future. My everything.

It was strange how fate worked. When I had left his club that night with him as my fake fiancé, I was sure I’d lost everything. Little did I know, fate had handed me the key to a new life. A better life. Sure, it might not be perfect, but it was perfect for me.





EPILOGUE




Gian



Six Months Later…



The second I entered the restaurant with my arm around Evie, the air shifted. Without greeting me, the owner barked out orders. The staff shifted into motion. Patrons stirred in their seats. Hushed whispers filled the room. Some people knew of me; others recognized Evie. All eyes were on us.

Her play was an instant hit, and she’d become a Broadway star. The critics raved about her skill and her grace. Good thing she was so talented because I would have ripped out their tongues if they said anything unflattering.

The owner dipped his head. “Mr. Trassato, Miss Jeffers, so nice of both of you to visit us tonight.”

I pulled Evangeline closer to me, loving the way her body fit against mine. “Only the best for my girl.”

He beamed. “Follow me. I have a special table on the back deck for you where you’ll have all the privacy you need.”

“Thank you.”

Evie eyed me with more than a little suspicion. I had told her I wanted to take her out to celebrate six months of being together, which was only half true.

The minute we settled into our seats, a waiter popped open a bottle of champagne, filled our glasses, and disappeared inside, leaving us alone.

Lanterns dangled from a trellis over our heads and circled our table on the floor. Red and white rose petals were scattered over the white linen tablecloth. Soft music played in the background.

Evie leaned forward, and her emerald green dress gaped at the front, drawing my attention downward. “Hey, eyes up here,” she said, snapping her fingers.

“Sorry.” I chuckled. “I can’t help myself. You look amazing in that dress.” She did. It complimented her hair color and her skin, and I really loved the way it showed off those legs of hers.

She flung her arm in a swooping motion. “What’s all this, Gian?”

I grinned, fishing my hand into the pocket of my best black suit. “Well, Evangeline, I wanted to make sure everything was perfect this time.”

“This time. What do you mean?”

I pulled the white box from my pocket and dropped down onto one knee. Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Gian…what are you doing?”