Page 110 of The Don's Deadly Assassin

Camela stares at me, stunned into silence.

I forge ahead before I can lose my nerve. "I want to marry you, Camela. I want to build a life with you, a real life with a home and a family and all the things you've been denied. If you'll have me, I promise to give you a lifetime of love and happiness. You deserve that. You deserve so much more than the life of an assassin, of a pawn, of a weapon."

I chance a glance at her, heart in my throat, and find her watching me with tears shining in her eyes. "You'd do that for me?" she whispers. "Truly?"

"In a heartbeat." I lift her hand to my lips again, pressing a fervent kiss to her knuckles. "I love you with all that I am, Camela. And someday, we could have a little girl. And for that girl, we’ll build a childhood so beautiful, that she’ll never understand a life not filled with love. We’ll give her everything, and more, the same things you deserved but never received.”

A single tear slides down her cheek, but her smile is radiant as the sun peeking through the clouds overhead. "Yes," she breathes, eyes meeting mine.

My heart swells, overflowing with joy. "Yes?"

Camela nods, a vision of loveliness with her tear-stained cheeks and trembling smile. "Yes, I will marry you."

I exhale a laugh, half-disbelieving and wholly ecstatic, and pull over to the side to take Camela into my arms. She clings to me as I bury my face in her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of her, overwhelmed by the love and gratitude swelling inside me.

After a long moment, I draw back to gaze into her eyes, tracing a thumb over her cheek to wipe away the remnants of her tears. "You've made me the happiest man alive," I tell her softly.

Her answering smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds, radiant and warm. "And you've given me more than I ever dreamed I could have." She hesitates, ducking her head as a faint blush stains her cheeks. "I never thought anyone could love me, not after...not with my past. But you..."

Lifting her chin, I force her to meet my eyes, willing her to see the truth in my words. "The past is the past. You are who you choose to be now, and the woman I love is strong, caring, and brave beyond measure. Never doubt that you deserve to be loved."

Camela's eyes shine with renewed tears, but her smile only grows wider. "You've given me hope, Vincenzo. Hope, and a future more beautiful than I ever imagined I could have."

My throat tightens at the love and joy in her voice, at the gift I've been given in her. I pull her close again, holding her as if I can meld our souls together through the power of my embrace.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, I glance over at her. The tears have dried on her cheeks, leaving only a faint sheen under her eyes, but her smile is radiant.

She catches me looking at her and squeezes my hand. "What is it?"

I shake my head, unable to contain my own smile. "You're going to be my wife."

A soft blush colors her cheeks at my words. "And you're going to be my husband," she returns, a note of wonder in her voice.

"Do you think..." I pause, suddenly feeling the weight of the question I'm about to ask. "Do you think your mother would have approved of me?"

Camela looks away, her eyes growing distant for a moment. I regret asking the question, not wanting to dampen her joy or bring up painful memories.

Then she turns back to me, a sad smile on her lips. "From the few but clear memories I have rushing back to me, of her, she was a gentle soul. She loved me wholly and she would have loved you, Vincenzo. Not just because you're Antonio's brother, but because of the man you are. Kind, compassionate, strong yet gentle." Her smile widens. "And hopelessly devoted to the woman you love."

My heart swells at her words. "As I am devoted to you, my darling."

"Then she would be happy now," I say, lifting Camela's hand to my lips. "Because we have found that love, and we're going to hold onto it forever."

Camela's eyes shine with tears to match my own, but her smile is radiant. "Forever," she echoes, and I know in that moment, that is the promise we have made to one another tonight.

EPILOGUE

Camela

The salty sea air fills my lungs as I stand at the railing of the yacht, sipping champagne and feeling utterly alive. The wind whips my hair around my face and the night air cools my skin. For a moment, I close my eyes and spread my arms, embracing the freedom.

Warm hands slide around my waist, pulling me back against a familiar, muscular body. "Enjoying the view?" Vincenzo's lips brush my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

I lean into his embrace, covering his hands with my own. "The best view I could ask for."

His chuckle rumbles through me. "Flatterer."

Turning in his arms, I loop my own around his neck and press close. "Only speaking the truth, my love. There is one other view I think better than this," and my eyes trail down his torso, stopping beneath his belt, before flicking back up.

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