White Knight (Dirty Mafia Duet, #2)(62)

Dom, true to his word, officially retired shortly after he was released from police custody. He handed me the reins and told me to do whatever I thought was right. Then he seduced the nurse, Judith Maria Hansen, bought a place in Boca, and convinced her to run away with him.

Cynthia went to rehab, terrified that the Rossettis were able to so easily grab her because she was hammered at the bar of the Plaza. She and Memphis are taking it slow with their new relationship. Even though they don’t share blood, they share a bond that they’re carefully rebuilding.

Teal graduated from rehab as well, and she and Grice are now in a happy, committed relationship. Tanya has never been happier either, since she has taken over a large portion of my management role at the club like she was meant for it.

I stand in the brownstone in Hell’s Kitchen, consulting with a design team as we create a brand-new vision for the building Dom gifted me—affordable housing for single mothers, complete with a day-care facility that’s included in the cost of rent. “I owe it to you, but also to your mother. Do something with it that she’d like.” We’re still working out the details, but Creighton is consulting on the project with me. As a matter of fact—

I glance down to check my watch. We’re going to be late for dinner with him and Holly if we don’t get moving soon.

I thank the team and go find Memphis in the library, the one room that won’t be altered because she made the request. She got her DNA test, and she is indeed Alessandra Rossetti, but she’s decided she won’t ever use the name. Memphis was given to her by Leander, in honor of his hometown, and for that reason, she’ll use it forever. With one change, though—she’s not going to be a Lockwood much longer. Soon, she’ll be Memphis Freeman, my wife.

I stand in the doorway, watching her work, hunched over a laptop at a wide wooden table she’s turned into her desk. She’s so engrossed in what she’s doing that I don’t want to break her concentration, so I take a step back. A creaking floorboard gives me away, though, and her head pops up. When she sees me, she slaps a hand over her chest like I almost gave her a heart attack.

“Holy hell, Danger. Sometimes I forget how quietly you can move.”

“Lifetime of practice,” I tell her with a laugh. “I was going to let you keep working, but . . .”

She checks the clock on her computer and shoots up from her seat. “Oh shit. It’s time to go, isn’t it? And you were going to let me keep working and make us both late?”

“When you’re in the zone, I’m not going to be the man to pull you out.”

A flash of sadness flits across her face before she says, “I just got through a tough part, so I’m ready.”

Memphis writes true crime now, having given up being an on-air reporter for good, but her investigative spirit is still fully engaged. Her first book untangles the story behind the murder of Regina Rossetti. It’s been hard on Memphis, but she’s determined to get the truth out there for everyone to know, because her mother deserves the honor.

I hold out my hand. “Then let’s go.”





“Have you set a wedding date yet?” Holly asks Memphis, checking out her ring once more.

I proposed three weeks ago, over Italian food and wine. Well, not actually over. I snagged an extra-small pizza box from Geno, filled it with notes with just a few dozen of the reasons I’m madly in love with her, and settled the ring on them. When Memphis opened it, her aqua eyes shimmered with tears. Then I read her every single note before finally popping the official question. Thankfully for me, she said yes instantly.

Memphis glances at me. “Not yet. We’re still talking about what we want to do.”

“Knowing Cannon, he’ll try to talk you into running away and doing the deed somewhere in secret,” Creighton says, like he lives in my damn head. The man still knows me better than anyone.

Memphis tries to hide her smile because she and I have been debating whether we want to do it up traditionally, or if we want to keep it small and intimate. As in just the two of us on a remote beach somewhere.

“But if they do that, we won’t be able to be there,” Holly says, her mouth forming a small moue.

I shoot her a look. “I didn’t get to come to your wedding.”

As Creighton’s laugh booms in the restaurant, Holly narrows her eyes. “Different situation, Cannon, and you know it.”

“If you’re looking for somewhere exotic,” Creighton says, “we’ve got friends in Ibiza. The Forges own an island.”

“Or you could do it in New Orleans!” Holly’s face brightens with a look of pure glee. “Eden has a whole crew of friends, and it would be awesome! You could do the parade through the French Quarter and everything.”

Through it all, Memphis is quiet, a small smile on her face as she toys with the ring that’s been newly added to the fourth finger of her left hand. When I suggested catching a flight next week to the South Pacific and getting married, just the two of us, her eyes lit up with excitement. I know what my girl wants. Even if it’s not traditional, it’s perfect for us.

Memphis’s gaze lifts to mine, and I see that same anticipation on her face now as she speaks. “We’ll let you both know when we decide. Promise.”

After dinner is finished, and the women have hugged and said their good-byes and we’ve helped them into my Bentley and Creighton’s new Rolls Royce Cullinan, my brother and I stand on the sidewalk facing each other.