Page 31 of Psycho Saints

"Voilà, messieurs et madame," he said with a flourish. "Enjoy our French delicacies." He indicated at each one as he explained what they were, and I could only stare at the stunning selection before me.

The first was a perfectly crafted croquembouche, as he'd called it - a towering cone of delicate cream puffs held together by threads of caramel. It glistened under the soft lighting, looking almost too beautiful to eat.

Next to it sat a plate with a single, flawlessly round Paris-Brest. The wheel-shaped choux pastry was filled with a praline cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Its golden-brown exterior promised a satisfying crunch, in his words.

The third dessert was a vibrant tarte au citron meringuée. The lemon curd gleamed like sunshine, topped with peaks of toasted meringue that reminded me of wispy clouds at sunset.

Finally, there was an intricate millefeuille. Layers of puff pastry alternated with vanilla cream, creating a delicate structure finished with a marbled chocolate and vanilla fondant top.

I stared at the desserts, momentarily forgetting the complexity of my situation. "They're beautiful," I breathed, genuinely impressed by the artistry before me.

Cristian leaned forward, a playful glint in his eyes. "Beauty for beauty," he said, raising his glass in a toast. "To new beginnings."

The brothers echoed his toast, their glasses clinking together. I hesitated for a moment before joining in, the crystal ringing out as our glasses met.

Looking around the table, I marveled at how comfortable I felt with these brothers despite everything. Sure, things were a little more twisted with Cristian, but he wanted to change that, and I'd agreed to allow him to try. Our situation was beyond fucked up - and yet, I was enjoying myself.

My life had never been normal. Growing up with abusive, neglectful parents had warped my sense of family. Now here I was, dining with three criminals who'd taken me captive, and feeling oddly at ease.

This new life, whatever it was, I oddly liked it. The danger, the luxury, the intensity - it all appealed to a part of me I'd tried to bury. With the Silvestri brothers, I didn't have to hide that darkness anymore. I could embrace it fully.

I followed the brothers out onto the balcony after our decadent dessert, the warm evening air caressing my skin. A band played softly in the background, their melody drifting on the breeze. Cristian handed me yet another mocktail, the glass cool against my palm.

We gazed out over the glittering manmade lake that the restaurant and a few other buildings circled, the lights twinkling like stars in the water. I sipped my drink, savoring the sweet, fruity flavor as I leaned on the railing.

"We have something for you," Cristian said, his voice low and intense as he turned to me. "From all of us."

I arched an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. Cristian nodded at his brothers, who returned the gesture, before he reached into his pocket and produced a small velvet box.

No, surely not…

My breath caught as those dark eyes burned into mine. This was insane, not at all what I'd expect. Maybe I was wrong and it was just jewelry again.

My heart skipped a beat as he opened it, revealing a stunning ring.

Well fuck me sideways.

The central diamond was enormous, surrounded by smaller stones that caught the light and sparkled brilliantly.

"We want you to become a Silvestri," Cristian said carefully, his eyes locked on mine. "Claim our name. No one will ever dare to oppose you or hurt you, and those who even think it or try will pay the ultimate price."

I was caught off-guard, my mind reeling. I'd known them for just over a month - not nearly long enough to be certain about such a monumental decision. Hell, how this whole thing had started had been unorthodox. Everything they'd done to me, the things we'd gone through, sure, it was a lot, but this?

Cristian sensed my hesitation. "It may seem soon," he admitted, "but you've seen all sides of us already, for the most part. The darkest parts, seen what we do, and been a part of it. We've gone through some shit in our small space of time, and I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you." His voice softened. "I can't promise I won't still be rough with you in the bedroom - that's a part of me."

Tyrone sighed, "He's right about that, Scarlet. We won't always be gentle, that's not in our nature, but you will be treated differently."

"We want to have you forever," Cristian pressed on. "A Silvestri woman is treated like royalty, always."

I stared at the ring, my thoughts a whirlwind. It was beautiful, tempting - but was I ready for this?

Tyrone stepped closer, his presence reassuring. "You can think about it," he said as his hand rested on the small of my back. "This might be a bit much, bit too soon."

Julian nodded in agreement, drawing my gaze from Christian for a moment. "You should have a few days to decide."

Cristian sighed but nodded, closing the box and slipping it back into his pocket. "I'd like to begin showing you how I'll take care of you," he said, his tone determined. "It's time we head home."

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