“Desi, what are…”

With a sly smile, he sauntered over again and bent down. He pulled out a small, black velvet box from his jacket.My heart stopped, my mouth fell open, and my mind went blank.He opened it, revealing a beautiful gold ring with a large round gem in the middle, surrounded by small diamonds. The band twisted around them, making them almost look like leaves, and the gem in the middle, a cloudy, white flower.

“It’s Jade.” He removed it from the box and motioned for me to give him my hand.

I did, and he slid it onto my ring finger. “But what’s more important is that it’s a promise. A promise that even if I’m not here all the time, or I’m late, that I’m not saying goodbye. I want you more than anything in this world.”

I stared at the beautiful ring. I had never owned something this lovely. All of my jewelry was fake, and no man had ever thought to give me more than dinner or a drink.

“I don’t know what to say,” I said, finally regaining the ability to speak.

“Say you feel the same.” He urged me up with him. “Say you love me just as much as I love you, and that nothing is going to come between us. Say that you want to be my past, present, and future. Say it, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you happy.”

I leapt into his arms. “Yes! All of that. Always, Desi.”

“Good!” He laughed and then grew serious. “Because now, if you want, I’ll tell you why I’m covered in Rock Galante’s blood.”