Page 52 of Mafie Trials

He keeps my back firmly pressed to his front. I’m honestly surprised his words are enough for me to relax into him. It’s obvious addiction isn’t cured over night, and it sure as fuck isn’t cured through threats and bargaining. It’s something he will likely live with for the rest of his life. While I never want the sickness to claim him again, I also soak in his words for what they are. He’s trying and he’s aware. He wants to be better for himself, not just us.

Which is why I turn in his grip, keeping our bodies pressed together, and kiss him with all of the emotions I don’t know how to voice. I kiss him with all the love I have for him, the lust. I kiss him with the fierceness of the sun so he knows I’ll always be in his corner. I kiss him with the promise of tomorrow and the joy of the sight of waking up to him every morning.

We break apart and rest our foreheads to each other; I breathe the words that I’ve been wanting to get out since the plane landed here.

“When you asked Evie to marry you, and I told her to marry us, you know I meant that I want to marry you too, right?”

He grins at me in that special way of his and I smile back, loving the joy and light I see in his eyes.

“Is this you asking, big boy? Where’s my ring?” He pulls me close, my hand sliding around his neck before I fist his hair.

“I’m not asking, I’m telling you. You’re mine, just as much as Evie is ours,” I growl, keeping my voice light but serious.

“I’m yours,” he agrees, “and you’re both mine. I still expect a ring though.” He kisses me, and I laugh into it.

“I’ll get you one as soon as we get Evie one,” I promise.

He pulls back with a glint of worry in his eyes. I know exactly what he’s thinking.

Alexi.

“How the fuck do we tell him?” I’m hoping Damien will come up with a crazy, off the wall plan just to distract me from the wrath of Alexi.

“We will talk to him soon.” Damien surprises me with the seriousness in his tone. “He might be angry that we asked her first, but there’s no doubt in my mind he wants this. If anything, the only reason either of them might be against it at this point is because they are stubborn as hell and would go out of their way tonotdo something someone planned for them.”

I snort at that because it’s so true. We’re going to have a lifetime of them butting heads, and I look forward to every single second of it.

A knock sounds at the door. Opening it I find Laney dressed in bright neon pink pajamas, holding a stuffed unicorn. I could laugh at this girl sometimes with how much she doesn't embody the badass manipulator she really is.

“I was promised movies and popcorn,” she says giddily.

“Come on in,” I gesture as she takes it all in.

I startle when Havoc walks in behind her, not even noticing him in her shadow of pink. He’s in a black shirt and sweatpants but sticking oddly close to my girl's best friend. Laney doesn't seem to notice him or the looks he shoots her as she seasons a bucket full of popcorn with way too much butter. She fixes herself a drink and before she can bring it back to the second couch bed, Havoc reaches around her and takes it for her.

She rolls her eyes, but doesn't say anything as she bounces over to the cozy setup and gets comfortable with her snacks. Havoc sits on her other side and waits until she's under a blanket before he moves close, but not too close. Damien and I exchange a glance while I shoot Alexi a text telling him to bring Evie before things get too weird.

“So, what are we watching?” Laney asks, digging into her popcorn.

“We were gonna let Evie decide,” Damien responds. She nods her head.

“You know, for some badass mafia men, the three of you can be pretty fucking romantic.”

I snort and Damien grins. “I guess we do alright from time to time,” I say as a knock sounds at the door again. A second later Evie is walking in with Alexi, and the smile I’ve been dying to see lights up her face as she runs to me. I pick her up in my arms, her legs wrap around my waist as she kisses me.

“This looks so amazing,” Evie says, taking everything in before running over to hug her friend and Havoc.

Damien scoops her in his arms and tosses her on the bed, asking what snacks he can bring her while Alexi stands in the back of the room, looking like he has no idea what to do.

“Get comfortable, bro,” I tell him gently, hoping it makes him feel better.

“How did you know this is what she needed?” he questions in a low tone.

“I told you,” I tell him, grabbing his shoulder and encouraging him forward to grab snacks, “she brings us balance. She needs all of us. She needed to train with you this morning. She’s going to need Damien’s cuddles and him being overbearing with snacks and jokes. And she needs me to see that this is what her heart needed.”

Alexi scrubs a hand down his face like he doesn’t understand any of this, I feel bad for the guy. He’s so used to doing it all, being it all, and this is clearly frustrating him.

“If you want to learn to do more of this stuff, I can help,” I offer.

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