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My heart nearly skipped a beat as our gaze locked.
“Tu sei l’amore mio.”You are my love.
I gasped as he lowered to one knee, pulling a tiny black box from his jacket pocket. He flipped it open as a smile curved his lips. The features on the right side of his face softened. The mask obscured the left, but I knew the smile extended across his face even when it caused discomfort.
“I have loved you since the day we met,” he announced, sincerity filling his deep voice, “and I will love you until my last breath. Marry me, Bianca. Be my wife and my forever.”
I heard a commotion and recognized Carlo’s voice but ignored him. Any objections from him or mynonnodidn’t matter. No one else in the world existed but Benny and his Binc.
An enthusiastic nod bobbed my head before I managed to squeak out a patheticyes.
Benny rose with an exuberant laugh and picked me up, twirling us around as applause broke out. His head lowered as he captured my lips, boldly claiming me in front of family, associates, and the enemies I knew lingered among the masked attendees. Hostility brewed on the edges of the ballroom but didn’t deter us. My body trembled as he slid his ring over my finger, holding my hand high enough to let the large diamond twinkle in front of everyone present.
I knew this moment was partially for show, to prove that Benny would defy anyone who tried to separate us. His risky performance paid off. For now. The crowd congratulated us as glasses of champagne were raised and toasts to our health repeated for several minutes.
Before anyone could ask Benny’s name, he took my hand and led us toward the exit with a determined stride. He played the game, beat his opponents, and won.Well done, demon of the night.
“We need to hurry,” he murmured, his impatience leaking through as his grip on my hand tightened.
“What’s wrong?”
Benny didn’t have a chance to answer.
Carlo cut us off close to the exit doors. Rage contorted his features into an ugly snarl. “Stop. Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Luckily, we moved far enough from the dance floor that the music drowned out Carlo’s words, and the guests didn’t notice.
Mynonnoapproached. “Carlo, stand down.”
Carlo didn’t move. His harsh gaze traveled over me. “I’m not failing a second time.”
I didn’t pay attention to his mask before now and almost laughed. An elaborate design with a beak and feathers. Fitting. He seemed as flustered as a drowned peacock.
Benny stiffened, angling his body ahead of mine for protection. “I’m leaving with my fiancé.”
Mynonnotilted his head to the side. “Ah. You haven’t hidden your identity well, Manic. Such a careless mistake.”
Any amusement I felt vanished with those words.
Carlo stepped in our direction, but my grandfather shook his head. “Not here.”
Benny never answered mynonno. He grasped my hand and strode from the ballroom, refusing to look back. We exited the house in a hurry, almost running away from the masquerade. To those in attendance, we probably seemed eager to be alone and celebrate. They weren’t wrong, not entirely.
But the reason we rushed toward the dark SUV idling in front of the house had nothing to do with our engagement.
Benny opened the door and helped me inside as I settled onto the back seat. He followed, tugging the door shut before we sped off, racing away from the only home I’d ever known.
A phantom had stolen me at close to the stroke of midnight. My dark knight saved me when I nearly lost hope. He rescued me from a dark fate that would have broken my spirit.
My hand reached for his as he intertwined our fingers.
“You’re safe,mio angelo.”
Sinking back against the seat, I relaxed as my shoulders released their tension. “I’m free.”
“For now,” he conceded.
I knew this wasn’t over. Carlo would come after us. Mynonnolet me leave, but I didn’t believe he was letting us go far.
