Page 25 of Brutal Don

Martha had prepared them a quick dinner, seafood Alfredo with Cobb salad on the side. Dinner looked delicious as always, but Cara wasn’t hungry one bit.

Dante decided after thwarting Ted’s poor assassination attempt, it was better if they had dinner at home. Cara agreed. She didn’t think she could stomach being in public right now.

“Of course,” Dante said.

“It’s just … I want to be sure we’re in this together,” Cara said. She hated the doubt and uncertainty in her voice. Dante had been nothing but wonderful to her, but he was a powerful man. He could change his mind about her any moment.

“Then I’ll make this clear,” Dante said.

Dante rose from his seat. He walked to her side of the table. Cara frowned, wondering what he was up to. Then Dante went on one knee.

Cara’s heart nearly exploded out of her chest as Dante pulled out a small, velvet-lined box from the inside pocket of his suit. She let out a breath as he opened the box, revealing the large diamond inside, elegantly set on a slender gold band.

“Are you proposing to me?” Cara had to ask, because this moment couldn’t possibly be real.

“No, I’m only giving you jewelry,” Dante answered dryly. “Of course. Cara Strong, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Cara flung herself at him. Dante caught her. “Yes, a thousand times yes,” she whispered in his ear and allowed him to slip the beautiful ring on her finger.

Epilogue

Cara studied her reflection in the mirror. Seeing the beautiful bride surprised her momentarily. The dark shadows under her eyes had disappeared.

She no longer looked haggard and her shoulders no longer drooped. Before Dante, she always started mornings, dreading the day ahead. All she had been focused on during that time period was paying off her father’s debt. It felt like she was constantly digging her own grave.

The past six months had transformed her into someone completely different, someone she could be proud of.

“Dad, can you see me now?” Cara whispered to her reflection. She wished he was still here, so he could walk her down the wedding aisle. He’s in a better place now, Cara reminded herself.

There was a gentle knock on the door of the dressing room. Right. Cara couldn’t stay locked up in here, reminiscing about the past. She had a wedding to go to—her own.

Dante and Cara spent the last two months preparing for this day. In the end, they settled for getting married in a small church close to Cara’s old neighborhood. Of course, her obsessive-compulsive husband had blocked off the entire street and ensured every security measure was in place.

After her failed kidnapping and Ted’s foiled assassination attempt, Dante had only grown extra protective of her. Cara didn’t mind it most of the time. After all, she intended to live a very long life with Dante.

The knock on the door turned insistent.

“I’m coming right out,” Cara called.

She gave herself one last check, before gathering her skirts and leaving the dressing room. Cara joined the wedding procession, composed mostly of Dante’s family members. She was part of their family now.

Dante wasn’t particularly warm to anyone else but his brother. His aunts and uncles seemed to like Cara just fine. In place of her father, Jack extended his arm to her.

“Are you sure about this?” Jack asked uncertainly. While Jack could never take her real father’s place, she had developed a fondness for Dante’s bodyguard.

“I’m sure,” she said. “You wouldn’t let this poor bride walk down the aisle on her own, would you?”

Jack straightened. “It would be an honor to escort you, Cara.”

The procession started. Two of Dante’s guards opened the double doors leading to the main church. The aisles were filled with members of Dante’s family and organization, and other close allies.

Despite the fact Dante and her settled on a small ceremony, she was still worried about tripping on her feet or doing something not graceful in front of their guests. Cara silently applauded herself for not screwing up her own wedding so far.

The music faded from her ears as Cara caught sight of her husband-to-be. Dante looked sinfully gorgeous in a suit and tie. When he turned his hungry gaze on her, all her initial worries melted away. This dangerous yet generous man wanted her to be his wife. Cara still couldn’t get over that, even on the most important day of her life.

Jack and Cara finally reached the priest. Jack handed her over to husband-to-be. Dante took her lace-gloved hands in his strong fingers. The moment he looked into her eyes, Cara knew she was home.

The priest started to speak but she barely caught his words. Cara only had eyes for her man. Dante lifted the veil from her face and rested one hand on her cheek. The priest hadn’t gotten to the part about their vows yet and already Dante looked ready to strip her bare and have her right there on the ground.

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