Page 108 of Captured Innocence

“Do you mind telling me what’s going on?” I barked.

“Mommy. Daddy. Can’t we tell Auntie yet? Doesn’t she get a big ring?” Michelangelo blurted out.

Lucia snapped her hand over his mouth, lowering her head and whispering in his ear. Then she jumped out, dragging her baby boy with her.

Exhaling, Dar laughed then patted Mattia on the arm before climbing out. That left me alone in the back with the man I loved.

“Do you have something to tell me?” I purred.

“Who, me? Not a thing. Could be a boring night. Come on.” He jumped out, taking long strides around the front of the SUV before throwing his hand into the open door.

Just touching him was as incredible as usual, my heart racing. In the two months of basic bliss, we’d purchased a house together, gutting a portion by ourselves as we created a beautiful world we wanted to live in. It was in between the original DeLuca and Lazarro estates, which allowed us privacy and seclusion on our gorgeous five hundred acres while keeping our family close.

It was perfect and I’d never been happier, except the love of my life hadn’t mentioned a word about marriage.

Perhaps until now.

As he took me by the hand, leading me toward the iron railing surrounding the beautiful harbor, suddenly as if by magic I heard music, the guitarist strolling closer strumming a romantic tune. Then my family gathered around, forming a semi-circle while Joy handed off what appeared to be two dozen or more of my favorite flower, white roses.

“What are you doing?” I was shaking, more so than I thought possible. Mattia wasn’t a romantic man and this was completely unexpected, even if my adorable nephew had blurted out what was happening beforehand.

As soon as Lucia started to cry, tears formed in my eyes.

And the man of my dreams stood a few feet away, glancing at every single member of the family, finally nodding to the guitarist. While the music became quieter, the musician continued to strum the romantic tune. Everything was perfect. The backdrop. The weather. The people.

The man.

“Sophia Lazarro. As I told you years ago, you were destined to belong to me.”

“Aww,” Enzo murmured and Joy punched him in the gut.

“Quiet,” she barked.

Which of course caused everyone else to laugh.

“But I was wrong,” Mattia continued. “We were destined to be together. The light to my darkness. The good to my evil. The air I breathe and the reason I get up in the morning.” He inched closer, handing me the roses, his eyes shimmering from tears.

As soon as he pulled a box from his jacket, D’Artagnan cleared his throat and whispered, “Down on one knee. You can’t cook worth shit but you need to follow my advice.”

“I’ve got this,” Mattia said gruffly but bent down. “My beautiful princess. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

I sucked in my breath, my tongue tangled.

“Say yes, Auntie!”

As my family laughed, I felt Lucia taking the flowers from my hands, Joy pulling out my arm, extending my hand.

I took a few magical seconds to look into his eyes, tears slipping past my lashes. Through all the horror and agony that we’d been through, two things had been constant in my life.

My family.

And the man I loved.

“Yes, Mattia. I will become your wife.”

EPILOGUE

Mattia

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