Page 138 of Dirty Game
Gomez speaks from the driver's seat. "Word is Marco's already booking a flight to Miami. And Enzo... doctors give him maybe a week."
"Good," I say, and mean it. "Let the past die with him."
That afternoon, while Dante naps, Varrick and I meet with the wedding planner.
It feels surreal, choosing flowers and cakes after threatening my blood relatives, but that's our life—beauty and violence intertwined.
"I want to be the ring bear!" Dante announces, wandering in rubbing his eyes. "Is that a thing? Ring bear?"
"Bearer," Varrick corrects gently. "And yes, you can be our ring bearer."
"Can Guardian come too?"
"Guardian can come too."
Dante climbs into my lap, still warm from sleep. "Rosa, will your family come to the wedding?"
"You're my family," I tell him. "You and Daddy and Uncle Korrin and Uncle Cyrus. That's all the family I need."
He nods, satisfied, then looks at the wedding planner's book. "That cake is too white. Rosa likes chocolate."
The wedding planner looks scandalized at the idea of a chocolate wedding cake, but Varrick just says, "Then we'll have chocolate."
That night, after Dante's asleep, Varrick finds me on the balcony.
The city spreads below us, glittering and dangerous.
He doesn't get on his knees—that's not us.
Instead, he presses me against the window, the same window where we've shared so many moments, where we've built our truth in the space between violence and tenderness.
"You know, I never officially gave you this," he says against my neck as he slides the ring on my finger. "I hope you love it.."
"I love everything you give to me, Varrick."
I glance down and see it in all its glory.
It's not traditional—black diamond surrounded by smaller white ones, set in platinum. It's perfect. It's us.
“It’s amazing."
He kisses me like it's the first time and the last time all at once before I even finish speaking.
"Gross," comes a small voice from the doorway. Dante's standing there with Guardian, trying not to smile. "Are you getting married right now?"
"Not right now," I tell him. "But soon, remember?"
"Good. I need time to practice with the rings." He pads over to us, inserting himself between us naturally. "Can we do something normal tomorrow? Like go to the park? Or get ice cream?"
"We can do both," Varrick promises. “Did something wake you up?”
"No, I just woke up and wanted you both." Dante shrugs.
Later, as we're tangled in bed with Dante sprawled between us, Varrick shows me the final custody papers.
It’s all official, finalized, stamped by a judge who knew better than to question Varrick Bane's fitness as a father.
"There's something else," he says, pulling out an envelope. "From Sienna's lawyers. Her will."
