Page 321 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

I expected him to rush forward, take me in his arms, and kiss me.

I didn’t expect more than that.

I would have forgiven everything just because of what he’d already said to his family.

Hedidrush towards me –

But instead of taking me in his arms, he dropped on both knees in front of me and took my right hand in both of his.

“Caterina,” he said, gazing up at me with pain in his face, “I was a fucking idiot.

“I amsosorry for everything I’ve done.

“I’m sorry for every time I made you feel second-best.

“I’m sorry that I treated you like a secret when you were the best thing that ever happened to me.

“I should have been there for you likeyouwere for me. But I wasn’t.

“I loved you from the moment I saw you. I know that now. I was just too stupid and immature to admit it.

“I want my entire family to know that you’re the woman I love – that I’vealwaysloved – and that I know I don’t deserve you.

“I amsosorry for every time I’ve hurt you.

“And I am begging you…beggingyou… to give me another chance.

“Please let me be the man IknowI can be. The kind of man you deserve.

“I will be faithful to you for the rest of my life.

“I promise to always be there for you – the way you’ve always been there for me.

“I swear toalwaysput you first, before anything or anyone else.

“I will treasure you, and cherish you, and prove my love to you every day for the rest of my life… if you’ll let me.

“I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking you to forgive me – and to give me one more chance to make it up to you.

“And I know Ireallydon’t deserve it… but please, Caterina Martinelli… will you marry me?”

By the time he got toI’m sorry for every time I made you feel second-best,I was crying.

When he said,Let me be the man I know I can be… the kind of man you deserve,I was sobbing.

And by the time he asked me to marry him, I was bawling my eyes out.

As he looked up at me, both pain and hope in his eyes, I nodded and smiled through my tears.

“…yes,” I whispered.

That’swhen he jumped up, took me in his arms, and kissed me like he never wanted to let me go.

123

Valentino

When she saidYes,it was the happiest moment of my entire life.

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