Chapter 9 - The Man Who Chose Me Over His Empire
The hospital smelled like disinfectant, burnt coffee, and the kind of fear that settles into your bones.
I'd been sitting in the waiting room for four hours.
My yellow sundress was stained with blood.
Vincent's blood.
I hadn't changed.
I hadn't eaten.
I hadn't stopped replaying the moment he collapsed.
Amelia emerged from the operating room just after midnight.
I stood so quickly that my chair tipped backward.
"How is he?"
She looked exhausted.
Then she smiled.
"He's alive."
My knees nearly gave out.
I grabbed the back of the chair.
"Is he okay?"
"The bullet missed the major vessels. He lost blood, but the surgeons repaired the damage. He's stable."
I began crying.
Not the quiet kind.
The ugly, helpless kind that makes breathing difficult.
Amelia hugged me.
"He's going to be okay."
I clung to her.
"Thank God."
Grandma arrived shortly afterward with Tess.
She wrapped me in her arms.
For several minutes, I couldn't speak.
Then Grandma whispered, "You love him."
I pulled back.
"What?"
She smiled sadly.
"Sweetheart, I've seen that look before."
I shook my head.
"We've known each other for three days."
"Your grandfather proposed after knowing me for six."
I stared.
"What?"
Grandma shrugged.
"He was a very determined man."
I laughed through tears.
"That's not reassuring."
"It wasn't meant to be."
She brushed my hair away from my face.
"Love isn't measured by how long you've known someone. It's measured by what you learn about them when life gets difficult."
I looked toward the operating room doors.
Vincent had stepped between me and a bullet.
He'd protected my family.
He'd found his sister.
And when faced with the chance to kill the man who'd destroyed his life, he'd chosen justice instead.
I swallowed.
"I think I love him."
Grandma smiled.
"I know."
Vincent woke up the next morning.
I was sitting beside his bed when his eyes opened.
He looked around.
Then at me.
For a moment, he seemed confused.
"Where am I?"
"Hospital."
He frowned.
"Why?"
I folded my arms.
"Because you apparently thought getting shot was an acceptable way to avoid helping Grandma repair the kitchen windows."
His mouth twitched.
"Did it work?"
"No."
He smiled weakly.
Then he looked at my face.
"Have you been crying?"
"No."
"Daisy."
"Fine. Yes."
His expression softened.
"Come here."
I leaned closer.
He reached for my hand.
"I'm okay."
I stared at him.
"You were shot."
"I noticed."
"You nearly died."
"But I didn't."
I swallowed.
"Don't do that again."
He squeezed my hand.
"I'll try."
I shook my head.
"Vincent."
His smile faded.
"Okay."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he looked at me.
"About what you said last night."
My heart jumped.
"What?"
"You agreed to marry me."
I felt my cheeks heat.
"You were bleeding."
"That doesn't invalidate the answer."
I stared at him.
"Are you serious?"
"Very."
I looked toward the door.
"Vincent, you barely know me."
He nodded.
"I know you make terrible decisions after drinking peach wine."
"Wonderful."
"I know you love your grandmother more than anything."
I looked down.
"I know you work until your hands ache because you refuse to let your family lose its home."
My throat tightened.
"I know you can fix a tractor."
I smiled despite myself.
"And?"
"And that you aren't afraid to tell me when I'm wrong."
He paused.
"Most people are."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"I know you have a heart big enough to forgive a man who comes with more darkness than most people could bear."
My eyes filled.
"Vincent."
He took a breath.
"I don't expect you to marry me because of a drunken promise."
I blinked.
"What?"
"I don't expect you to marry me because I protected you."
His voice softened.
"And I don't expect you to marry me because I got shot."
"Good, because that would be a terrible strategy."
He smiled.
"I want you to choose me because you want me."
I stared at him.
He reached toward the bedside table.
There sat the velvet ring box.
The same one he'd brought to our kitchen.
He opened it.
Inside was the diamond ring.
My grandfather's ring.
Vincent looked at it.
"This belonged to Robert Bennett."
I nodded.
"Yes."
"And I think he would want it to stay in your family."
He handed it to me.
I took it carefully.
Then he reached into the drawer and removed another box.
My breath caught.
Inside was a simple gold ring with a small diamond.
Nothing extravagant.
Nothing overwhelming.
Just beautiful.
Vincent looked at me.
"This one is from me."
I stared at him.
"You bought another ring?"
He smiled.
"After meeting you, I realized the first one wasn't right."
"Why?"
"Because you aren't impressed by money."
I looked down.
He continued.
"You want something real."
My eyes filled with tears.
"So do I."
I covered my mouth.
He gently took my hand.
"Daisy Bennett, will you marry me?"
I stared at him.
The dangerous Mafia boss.
The man who'd frightened an entire festival crowd.
The man who'd carried me on his shoulders because I was too drunk to walk.
The man who'd shown me tenderness when I least expected it.
I smiled through tears.
"Yes."
His face transformed.
Not into the confident smile I'd seen at the festival.
Something softer.
Something almost boyish.
"Yes?"
I laughed.
"Yes, Vincent."
He slipped the ring onto my finger.
Then I leaned forward and kissed him.
It was gentle.
Warm.
And absolutely perfect.
When I pulled away, he smiled.
"No take-backs, sweetheart."
I laughed.
"Don't push your luck."
Then his expression became serious.
"There's something else."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?"
"Anthony's been arrested."
I went still.
"He survived?"
"Yes."
"And Charles Whitcomb?"
"Federal investigators detained him this morning. Both men are facing serious charges."
I swallowed.
"What about the inn?"
Vincent smiled.
"The fraudulent liens are being challenged in court. An emergency order has stopped the foreclosure."
I stared.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"And there's more."
He handed me a folder.
Inside were documents showing that several properties Anthony had stolen through fraudulent schemes were being placed under court supervision.
One of the properties included our land.
I looked at Vincent.
"What does this mean?"
"It means your family may recover what was taken."
I began crying again.
He brushed a tear from my cheek.
"Hey."
I shook my head.
"I'm happy."
"I can see that."
I laughed.
"You're going to get used to this."
"I think I already am."
Then the door opened.
Grandma Ruth entered carrying a plastic container.
"Well, look who's awake."
Vincent smiled.
"Good morning, Ruth."
She approached the bed.
"I brought chicken soup."
He glanced at the container.
"Thank you."
"And peach cobbler."
My eyes widened.
"Grandma!"
She smiled innocently.
"What?"
"You know what happens when you bring peach anything near him."
Vincent laughed.
Grandma looked at my hand.
Then froze.
"Oh."
Her eyes filled with tears.
She looked at Vincent.
"Did you ask her properly this time?"
He nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And?"
I held up my hand.
Grandma burst into tears.
Then she hugged both of us.
For a moment, everything felt right.
But just as I began to believe the worst was behind us, Vincent's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
I felt my stomach tighten.
He listened silently.
Then slowly turned toward me.
"Daisy."
"What?"
"There's something you need to see."
I swallowed.
"What?"
He looked at Grandma.
Then back at me.
"The federal investigators found another account in Robert Bennett's name."
My heart pounded.
"An account?"
Vincent nodded.
"Someone has been depositing money into it for twenty-six years."
I stared at him.
"Who?"
His expression became unreadable.
"Your grandfather."
I blinked.
"That's impossible."
Vincent took a breath.
"Not according to the records."
May you like
Then he said the words that made my heart stop.
"Daisy, I think your grandfather may still be alive."
