Page 38 of The Mafia King's Stolen Fiancée

Rafa was the only person I knew who could effectively bulldoze over an entire conversation with one declaration.

Hearing those first three little words from him changed everything. They made me better understand how Rafa had reacted to everything—the woman he loved had been threatened.

“I love you, too.” I traced my fingers along his jaw, feeling the tension beneath the whiskers. “But I don’t want to be your arm candy. To go from one gilded cage to another.”

“You won’t be arm candy,cara. You’ll be my queen.” His eyes burned into mine as he added, “And you won’t be in a cage.You’re free to come and go as you please.” His thumb brushed against my lower lip. “As long as you have guards with you.”

I couldn’t be annoyed by his insistence that I had security to protect me. Because that was Rafa—fiercely protective and unwilling to risk anything happening to me. I had to accept this side of him because it was part of why I’d fallen so hard and fast for him.

And I couldn't ignore that he lived in a dangerous world. Just being with Rafa made me a target because his enemies would know that I was his weakness. I wouldn't risk what we had for anything. If that meant having a security detail, then so be it.

With a soft laugh, I twined my arms around his neck and pressed my body against his. “Fine, but I get to pick the wedding date.”

His low growl of approval sent a shiver down my spine. “We’ll see.”

Then his hands were back on me, sliding beneath my camisole to push away the thin barrier between us. I melted into his touch, my body already responding to the possessive stroke of his palms.

But when I stroked my hands down his broad chest, I felt the brush of something cool against my finger. I glanced down and froze. A massive, sparkling diamond twinkled in the moonlight shining through the crack in the curtains.

The ring was an undeniable symbol of everything Rafa had just declared…and it had already been on my hand before we even started our conversation.

I gasped, my heart racing as I lifted my hand. “Rafa, how? When?”

He smirked, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “While you were sleeping, before I headed into the shower.”

A laugh bubbled out of me, full of joy. “You sneaky, overbearing?—”

He flashed me a cocky grin. “I told you, my angel. I’m never letting you go.”

“Good. Because now you’ve put a ring on it, I’m all yours. And there are no take backs.”

EPILOGUE

RAFFAELE

My gaze swept around the long table that filled my home’s very large dining room. We often still gathered at mymamma’shouse for Sunday dinners, but when we knew a larger crowd of family would be here, we shifted to the mansion.

It was perfect timing on this particular Sunday.

All of my siblings were home, a ton of my cousins, and Nic and his family were here for our wedding.

“Are you excited about this weekend?” Gabbi asked my fiancée with a dreamy expression.

I’d been floored when Vivienne had decided to have our wedding in three months. Then I kissed the hell out of her for being so fucking amazing.

The reason hadn’t mattered to me because all I cared about was making her my wife. And while mymammadidn’t want to make Vivienne uncomfortable, she had no such qualms with me and made it very clear every time we were alone that she disapproved of us living in sin.

It amazed me that she seemed to think I still had a shot at getting into heaven. Whenever I told her that, she made the sign of the cross and muttered, “Can’t hurt to hedge your bets,figlio.”

She wasn’t going to care so much about Vivienne and me spending the past three months living together when she heard why my angel had chosen to rush the ceremony. Although, I didn’t know how anyone could call this a rushed wedding. Waiting to marry Vivienne had been slow and torturous.

“Yes. I can’t wait,” Vivienne replied to my sister.

I gently squeezed her thigh to get her attention and raised my brow. She blushed adorably and nodded.

Clearing my throat, I grabbed everyone’s attention by getting to my feet.

“I have a few things to say,” I told them with a straight face. “Domenico,” I said, looking at my friend sitting across from Gabriella. “Matteo and I are officially off the market, so I’m not sorry to say that you’re the most likely candidate for themammasto expend all their matchmaking efforts on.”

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