Page 103 of Ruthless Saint

“You saved me,” I say at the same time.

He shakes his head “I thought I was saving you, but I made it worse. The things you went through…the shit that happened to y—”

“You saved me, Dante,” I state firmly. “You were just a kid yourself. You couldn’t know.”

“I should have checked up on you. Made sure.” He grips my hand and lifts it to his lips. “I will never forgive myself for abandoning you like that.”

“Well, I—What the fuck is that?” I blink in shock at the huge diamond trying to blind me.

“What?” Dante asks in confusion, looking over his shoulder then back at me.

“That!” I motion with my eyes at the rock the size of a disco ball. “No wonder I can’t lift my arm,” I mutter.

“It’s your engagement ring.” Dante shrugs like he’s not blowing my mind with his statement.

“Mywhatnow?”

“Engagement ring,” he says patiently.

“What the hell, Dante? Shouldn’t you like, ask me first?”

“I did, you said yes.”

The hell? Were we having two different conversations? I remember us joking around, not him proposing. I’m aboutto open my mouth in protest, but he places a finger on my lips, stopping me.

“It’s not like it matters anymore. You’re mine, I’m yours. This ring is just a formality—I’m going to marry you.”

“Dante,” I whisper against his finger. “But—”

“No buts. As soon as you can walk, we can go get our licence. I had the application filed already. We can have a proper wedding later.”

“What about the contract?”

“I don’t give a fuck about the contract.“

I try to shake my head, but the movement hurts too much. I guess I’m getting married?

48

DANTE

It takes a week for Alessa to be discharged. Coincidentally, it is the exact amount of time it takes me to convince her there’s no point in taking off her engagement ring—I’ll only slip it back on at the next opportune moment. I’m not discouraged by her determination not to wear it. She knows as well as I do that we belong together, and as much of a fuss she’s making about me being an ‘obsessed mafia douche’, I see her looking at the ring wistfully and smiling when she thinks I’m not watching.

“How are you feeling, baby?” I ask, placing a kiss on her knuckles as I help her out of the car, and grab the hospital bags from the backseat.

Alessa bites her bottom lip, trying to squelch the grin dancing threatening to break out. “I can’t believe I’m finally out.” She inhales deeply. “Aahhh, the smell of fresh air. The feel of gravel under my feet. This is what freedom feels like.”

“You sound like you just got out of prison, not a luxury hospital suite.”

“Well, Dante.” She whirls to face me, a small grimace appearing on her face with the quick movement.

I’m by her side in an instant. “Are you hurting? Should I carry you?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m fine, nurse Santoro.”

Oh, I’ll nurse her back to health, alright. Now that I’ve had the ‘all clear’ from her doctor, I’ve got plans for that delicious pussy of hers. It’s been a week of torture not being able to sink into her, and the couple of times I licked her to orgasm in her hospital bed was nowhere near enough. Just the thought of how she screamed my name, causing poor Bri to run in and get an eyeful of my head between Alessa’s legs, is making me smirk.

She blushes, her green eyes widening as if she knows exactly where my mind has gone. “Let’s go,” I growl, taking her hand in mine and guiding her up the steps to the front door.

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