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“Because you didn’t ask.”
He nodded in understanding. “You want it done properly.” He bent down to one knee and took both my hands in his, the ring pressing into our skin. His eyes glittered as he looked up at me, and I swallowed the thickness that had formed in my throat. “Vivian, I have desired nothing more than to spend every single day with you from the second I first saw you. It took me time to come to terms with that, but it didn’t make it any less true. You’ve never asked for more than I could give, yet you demand everything. All I’ve ever wanted to do was be that for you. I love you more than I ever thought possible. You’ve taught me to trust when I couldn’t. I need you to be mine forever, V. And I need to be yours.” He held up his hand, to keep me from interjecting. “I know you’re about to say that we already are—”
“Yes,” I interrupted, sliding down in front of him.
“I wasn’t finished,” he huffed playfully. He cleared his throat. “I will love you until the end of time, Vivian. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
I held out my left hand, and he slipped the diamond on my finger. “Yes,” I repeated, pressing my lips to his. “And you’re a damn liar.”
His dark brows lowered. “How so?”
“Youare romantic.”
Daniel visibly relaxed, pulling me against him. “So I’ve been told.” We grinned at each other, and I tackled him to the floor, pelting him with kisses. “There’s my Vivian,” he said triumphantly.
I held my hand up and looked at the ring. After all this time, we were engaged. I’d never thought I needed marriage, but this settled something in my soul. We could finally just be us again.
I propped my chin on his chest. “Did you just get home? How did it go?”
He exhaled and wrapped his arms around me. “Long night. And it went.”
“No answers?”
“Yes and no.”
I shifted so I was nestled against his side. “Why is this all surfacing again? Your father died so long ago.”
His jaw worked, and his fingers squeezed mine. “Vinny, the man who deceived you, turned in Donato for the murder.”
I sat up. “But you all work together.”
“They’re brothers.”
Oh. Right. “Who does that to their own brother?” And then I realized that Daniel’s father had been no different. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
He shushed me with a light kiss. “In this case, you’re right to be appalled. Donato’s done right by him.”
“So why wasn’t Donato arrested?”
“A few weeks ago, the authorities called to inform me that they were reopening the case as a murder instead of a suicide. They had reason to believe Donato had done it. The tip gave us a chance to buy him a little time and try to get him out of it, but then Donato’s inside man got word to us that he was about to be arrested.” His eyes implored me. “I couldn’t let that happen. Not after everything he’s done for me.”
I nodded, my heart twisting. “You turned yourself in,” I surmised.
For a fraction of a second, he looked surprised before his features smoothed. “I did. Donato got me out until the arraignment.” He sucked in a deep breath and released it. “I’ll plead guilty, Vivian. Most of the evidence has disappeared. My confession will stand.”
“But you didn’t do it,” I protested. “I have to find a way to prove you aren’t guilty,” I said with renewed determination.
Daniel shook his head. “You can’t do that.”
“Why not? I won’t let you go to prison for a murder you didn’t commit.”
“If I get off, Donato will go down.”
I slumped against him. “And you won’t let that happen.”
“I can’t, Princess. I owe him my life.”
“You shouldn’t take the fall for this. I don’t care who he is.Heshouldn’t let you.”
