Page 104 of Beautiful Vows

Lia

The sharp, medicinal scent of the numbing cream fills my nostrils as Dante gently massages it into my finger. His touch is careful as he works the ointment into my skin. The cool cream brings immediate relief, soothing the flesh around the fresh ink.

"It'll stop throbbing soon," Dante murmurs. I feel the warmth of his breath on my hand as he leans in close and kisses my finger.

I lift my hand into the air, looking at the newly darkened ring that encircles my fourth finger. I wiggle my digits, watching as the skin stretches and contracts around the tattoo. Turning my hand around, drinking in every detail of the intricate design.

And their names.

Rafe.

Cade.

Dante.

All entwined with my own, and now permanently etched into my skin, a physical reminder of our bond.

A smile tugs at my lips, warmth blooming in my chest. "I love it," I say.

Dante's eyes meet mine. I ask, "Are you okay with this now?"

He nods lightly. "You don't belong to me," he says, then shrugs his shoulders, the fabric of his shirt rustling with the movement. "Well, you do. You're still more mine, but I accept Cade and Rafe belong to you, too."

"Belong to me," I echo, the words a question and a statement all at once.

Before Dante can respond, the click of heels on the polished airport floor draws our attention. A woman approaches, her navy blue suit crisp and professional. Her badge glints under the fluorescent lights, identifying her as an airport official.

Her hair is pulled back into a neat bun, and she carries herself with the proficiency of someone used to keeping things running on schedule.

"Your flight is ready to board," she announces, her voice clipped and formal. “Are you ready?”

I feel a surge of excitement, remembering that Dominic has lent us his private jet for our babymoon.

"Yes, thank you," Dante says.

Cade knocks back the last of his delicious smelling coffee. “More than ready.”

The crisp Swiss air nips at my cheeks as I make my way through the cemetery, my boots crunching softly on the frost-covered grass.

The silence here is hefty, broken only by the intermittent rustle of leaves and the occasional calls of birds in the trees.

Dante, Rafe, and Cade are nearby, and our bodyguards maintain a discreet but observant distance. Their presence in this unknown but serene place is welcome.

The lilies and orchids in my arms release a sweet, delicate fragrance that mingles with the earthy scent of damp soil.

When I inhale their smell, their petals are cool and silky against my skin, a stark contrast to the rough stems I'm gripping perhaps a little too tightly.

Antonio's words echo in my mind. "They were her favorites."

As I approach the burial plot number Antonio gave me, my steps slow and my deep breaths are visible in small puffs before me.

Another step and my heart races. The beats seem too loud in this quiet place.

I kneel, the cold seeping through my clothes and into my bones. Tears prick at my eyes, blurring my vision as I lay the flowers gently at the base of the headstone, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the gray stone and muted tones of the cemetery.

“Aurora Moretti,” I whisper as a deep shiver skates down my spine. My trembling fingers reach out to trace the engraved letters of her name on the headstone.

As a shiver runs down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I glance around, but only see the silent tombstones and bare trees around me.

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