Chapter 8 - A Wedding No One Saw Coming
One year later, Talia no longer worked at Carmine's.
The restaurant had changed owners.
Dante had changed too.
He turned most of his legitimate businesses over to independent management.
The remaining organization was dismantled.
He kept only the businesses that could survive legally.
He opened a veteran support foundation in Talia's name.
She hated that.
Then secretly loved it.
"You could have named it something normal," she complained.
He smiled.
"Mercer Foundation sounds normal."
"You put my name on a building."
"You earned it."
She shook her head.
"You are impossible."
"So I've been told."
The two of them were standing in front of the old restaurant.
Carmine's had reopened.
This time, Talia was a co-owner.
Dante hadn't bought it for her.
He'd helped her buy it.
There was a difference.
She had rebuilt the kitchen.
Rehired the staff.
Changed the menu.
And, in the back room, she kept one framed photograph.
Her parents.
Young.
Happy.
Alive in the only way photographs preserve people forever.
Dante joined her.
"You ready?"
"For what?"
He reached into his jacket.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Dante."
He dropped to one knee.
She froze.
People gathered outside the restaurant.
Her mother was crying.
Elias was pretending not to.
Even Adrian stood in the crowd, smiling awkwardly.
Dante looked up at her.
"I spent my life believing love was weakness."
Talia swallowed.
"I was wrong."
He held out the ring.
"I don't want to protect you because you're fragile."
She laughed through tears.
"You've never managed to treat me like I was fragile."
"I want to stand beside you because you're strong."
He breathed in.
"I found you in a restaurant, and I thought I'd found the person who could save my family."
Talia's eyes filled.
"But you saved me first."
She whispered, "Yes."
Dante smiled.
"Is that a yes?"
"No."
His face fell.
Talia laughed.
"Ask properly."
He laughed too.
"Talia Mercer, will you marry me?"
She leaned down.
"Yes."
The crowd erupted.
Her mother hugged her.
Elias shook Dante's hand.
Then whispered, "If you hurt her, I'll outlive you just long enough to make your life miserable."
Dante smiled.
"I believe you."
May you like
For once, the future didn't feel like a threat.
It felt like a choice.
