Page 67 of The Mafia’s Girlfriend

“Explain,” he ordered.

“My father and his—Vincent Marchese—have an agreement. They struck an agreement before I turned thirteen that I’d marry Antonio.”

“When you were thirteen? That’s illegal.”

I huffed. “We have our own laws.”

“That can’t be legitimate.”

“It’s not, not really.”

“Did they sign paperwork?”

I shook my head. “But a spoken agreement is unbreakable. You can’t just go back on your word.”

“Did he ask you to marry him?”

I shook my head. “Antonio knows he doesn’t have to propose. It’s just expected.”

“He didn’t give you a ring.”

“That’s just a technicality.”

“The fuck it is.” He pulled my hand to bring me inside. Nina was napping in her recliner, and we didn’t pause to wake her. Luke led me, soaking wet and shivering from the shock of this news, to his room.

I stood there, frowning when he rifled through the contents of a dresser drawer. When he turned, he held up a ruby ring and dropped to one knee.

My eyes opened so wide I swore they’d fall out. My jaw followed suit, hanging open.

“Marry me,” he said.

“Luke, I—” I blinked, so stunned I couldn’t breathe fast enough.

“Please. Will you marry me?” He stood and held my head, boring me with an intense stare. Of hope. Of determination. Of love.

“It doesn’t work like that. This arrangement—”

“Is a bunch of bullshit, Emma. I don’t give a fuck about mafia rules and expectations. He doesn’t own you. I do.” He leaned in to grip my chin and kiss me hard. “You own me. I love you, Emma. I don’t care how fast it happened. I don’t care if my entire identity has just been changed beyond my imagination. I don’t fucking care about any of that.”

I swallowed hard, stepping closer to press my brow to his as he ducked closer to me.

“All I know, without a doubt, is that I love you. I will never stop. And I will never give you up.”

“I want...” I choked on my words. “I want to believe that.”

“He’s got nothing. Two old men making plans without your consent won’t fly. Not according to me. I don’t care if they shook on it or signed a paper in blood, it’s not happening. You’re going to be engaged only when you make that fucking choice. No one else. So consider making it now. With me.”

I licked my lips, falling that much more for this strong fighter. This protective hero.

He didn’t know what he was talking about. He couldn’t just swoop in and change it all.

But...what if we could? If I stood with him, if I chose to call him my fiancé despite the fact that Antonio thought the privilege would be his...

“Emmalina.”

I sighed at his plea. Hearing my name roll from his lips was like the love poem I’d been waiting to hear my whole life.

He tipped my chin up, looking me dead in the eye. “Will you marry me?”