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“Is this what you want?” she asked.
“This is my selfless option. The choice I’m giving you.” He stepped up close and put the envelope on the chair. He reached back into his pocket and she watched in shock as he sank down to one knee. He held a box in his hand. “This is my selfish option. I want you to marry me. To become Elenore Giavanni. To be my wife, the mother of my children. I will give you everything in that envelope. You will want for nothing. I will only ever love you. Show you kindness and give you the life you really deserve. Here’s the catch, you will have to stay in this life. This life of violence, of pain, of knowing I will make some bad choices. I will kill. I will hurt, but I will never, ever allow it to taint what I feel for you.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Two choices. Which one would you like?”
She stepped up into his arms, cupped his face, and kissed him hard. “You. I will always choose you.”
He stood up, sinking his fingers into her hair and kissing her hard. “You know I’m being selfish, keeping you all to myself.”
“I don’t care. I love you, Raphael. I thought you had forgotten me. That you no longer wanted me.”
“I want you. Never doubt that. I love you and care for you, and I don’t want a life without you. You’re mine.”
“Please, put it on me,” she said.
He lifted the ring out of the box and slid it into her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” Timothy said, coming down the garden path.
“Did you know he was here?”
“Of course. I told him you love sitting out in the garden. He didn’t want to make a big entrance.”
Raphael held her close and she didn’t want to let him go. Not ever.
He was hers, just as she belonged to him.
“Can anyone join this party?” Antonio asked, coming into the garden with his wife.
She’d met Ellie once as she’d come to visit her to introduce herself.
“Congratulations,” Ellie said.
Elenore wasn’t entirely sure she was a friend, but for now, she was happy to have a female companion.
Antonio and Raphael shook hands.
“This is for you,” Raphael said. He pulled a device out of his pocket. “There was no paperwork. My father kept USB keys with all the relevant information on it. I’m a man of my word. You’re free.”
Antonio took the device. “Free? And how do you expect to keep your standing? The respect of the men?”
“I have my ways.”
“Exactly. I’ll keep the device and my title as enforcer.”
“Antonio, this is your freedom. You don’t have to answer to the Family anymore.”
“And I won’t. I will only answer to you.”
Ellie smiled. “We’ve talked about it and he doesn’t believe he can handle a nine-to-five job.”
“You’re okay with this?”
“Yes. He loves me and I know he’s doing what is right for us, for this family.”
Elenore turned away as the couple kissed. She didn’t need to see them. She only had eyes for Raphael.
“It would seem I’ve got to get myself a woman,” Timothy said.
“I don’t think you could handle anyone,” Elenore said.
“I can find a nice woman. One who can handle my enjoyments. I will find her and put you all to the test.”
“I bet he finds a woman,” Antonio said. “I’ve seen what he can do and I’m convinced he can do fucking anything.”
Raphael burst out laughing. “I won’t be betting against him. I’ve seen him in action. I just don’t think he could taint the perfect woman.”
“You’re all mocking me,” Timothy said, shaking his head. “I’ll go and fire up the barbeque. I’m hungry.”
“I’m going to follow him to make sure he’s cooking something good and not human parts,” Antonio said.
Alone, she turned toward Raphael.
“I love you,” they both said in unison.
“I’m never going to get tired of hearing you sat that.” He pushed some of her hair off her shoulder. “I promised myself if I got to you before my uncle could hurt you, I would tell you every chance I got. I love you, Elenore. So much.”
“I love you too. Forever.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. She had started out as a slave girl, but she wasn’t that anymore. Her past no longer had any control over her.
Raphael had helped her, guided her, and now she knew she was free. There were no longer any cuffs binding her.
She’d be his wife and make him proud.
She would also make sure no other girl or woman ever suffered the way she had. She’d help to set others free.
Epilogue
Five years later
Raphael hated leaving his woman behind. When business called, he tried to keep her as far away as possible. He never wanted it to even look at her, let alone touch her. There were times she needed to play the role of his wife and he was okay with that. He loved having her on his arm. She hated the gossip about her. Even after five years, she was still one of the most talked-about people at any given party.
