Page 136 of Merciless Monster

“Ugh! Busted,” I admit.

“Oh, my word, you are so adorable.”

“Of course I’m nervous. I don't want to have to elope if your father chases me out into the street.”

“Oh, rubbish. He’d never.”

“I hope not. I gave up my job for you, you know,” I smirk.

“Oh, ha…ha... Very funny.”

Mia walks into the house, carrying a bottle of whiskey I bought for Arnold and chocolates we bought for Catherine, who I’m told is a complete chocoholic.

“There you are,” Mom says and hugs little Angelo.

“Hey, Grandma. Look what I got.”

“Wow, That’s a lovely catcher’s mitt, darling. What happened to your other one?”

“I think Splash buried it in the garden.”

“What a naughty dog,” she fusses.

“Hi, Mia. Hello, Dante. Welcome. Arnold is out in the back starting a bushfire,” she says and rolls her eyes. “I swear that man is a recycled pyromaniac.”

“Thanks, Catherine. I’ll make sure he doesn’t set the house alight.”

“Thank you, darling.”

“Hey, Dante,” Arnold greets me happily as I join him outside at the fire pit. “How are you? How was Rome?”

“Hi, Arnold. It was good, thanks. My brother’s wedding was lovely. So good to see the family together. How are you?”

“Much better, thanks. Mia told me the news. I’m proud of you, Dante.”

“Thank you, Arnold. That means a lot to me. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

“Okay. Grab us a beer over there in the cooler before we’ll chat.”

“Sure.”

I take two beers from the cooler and hand him one.

“Thanks. Okay, I’m listening.”

“Firstly, I wanted to thank you for the classy way in which you handled the whole situation out at the ranch. You could have lost it with me, but you didn’t. I really appreciate that.”

“I can’t say it was my pleasure, but you’re welcome.”

“Secondly, I wanted to ask you something.”

Arnold starts to smile.

“Uh-huh.”

“I want to ask you for Mia’s hand in marriage, Arnold. I love her very much and I want her and I and our beautiful Angelo to be a family. Officially.”

I’m sweating bullets. Imagine that. A tough ex Don afraid of Mia’s father’s answer. It would be hysterical if it wasn’t so damned important to me.

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