Page 63 of Mafia Christmas Vows

That makes me squeeze out a small, nervous giggle.

Like them?

Sitting in the box are two of the most beautiful rings that I’ve ever seen in my life. One is an engagement ring that’s literally the size of a chunk of ice. The diamond in the middle is a pale, ice-blue, and it’s surrounded by so many smaller diamonds that my eyes kind of hurt as they catch the sparkle from the Christmas tree.

The other ring is a wedding band. It’s gorgeous. It clearly matches the ring, and it’s crusted with small diamonds, each one cut into a slightly different shape. It should look chaotic, but the overall effect as they balance against each other is one of harmony and cohesion.

Together, they’re absolutely stunning.

“Milaya?”

I shake my head. “Alexei. These are the most beautiful rings that I’ve ever seen in my whole life. But how…”

He gets down on one knee, and my heart stops.

Gently, Alexei takes the rings from the box. He takes my trembling hand and slips one, then the other, onto my finger.

“Maggie. Magdalena. My love. My heart. You did not choose me as your husband. If you could have, I have no doubt you wouldn’t have chosen me. Before I met you, I was… a beast,” he mutters.

I give him a smile. “Hardly. A monster, maybe, but you’ve never been a beast.”

He chuckles, pressing a kiss on my knuckles. “I was someone, certainly. I was someone who didn’t believe that he needed a wife, or love, or any of that. I required a wife in order to maintain my dominance over my family legacy, but I didn’t think that I needed one. I was content to pass every day in my business. To remain in Novgorod forever, to let Orlov House remain empty.”

I feel like crying. But I refuse to.

Alexei stands, tugging me close. “You, Maggie, reminded me that Orlov House is never meant to be empty. It is a house for a family. A house for love. A house for people to live their lives within. It isn’t a mausoleum, and I cannot honor my mother without making it live again. You taught me that life is meant to be lived, not endured. I love you,” he whispers.

My breath catches in my throat.

“I love you. And I think you stopped me from saying it last night, and while I don’t understand why…”

“I love you too,” I gush.

Alexei blinks like I said something much worse.

“I love you. I’m sorry about last night. I told myself that it couldn’t be real, that I couldn’t love you so quickly, but screw it. I love you, Alexei Orlov,” I say through the tears that I definitely have no control over anymore.

“You love me?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

Alexei sweeps in, sealing his mouth over mine in a kiss.

Everything is in that kiss. Every moment of joy we’ve experienced. Every thing we’ve said.

Every truth we’ve exchanged.

When he pulls back, he smiles. “Your parents are still indisposed, I assume.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I am absolutely not going to find out.”

Alexei nods. “I meant to ask you this in front of your parents, but the time seems better now. Maggie, will you choose me? Will you be my wife, for now, and for all the Christmas holidays to come?”

The smile that splits my face feels as bright as the star on the top of the tree.

“I love you, Alexei Orlov. I love you, and I’ll choose you this Christmas, and every Christmas after.”

When he pulls me into a kiss this time, we’re both crying happy tears. He sweeps me into a hug, and I laugh, shouting my joy into the walls of the house that surround us like a warm hug.

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