Page 95 of Devil's Thirst
My jaw hinges open.
“And I don’t want to go a minute longer without seeing my ring on her finger.” He opens the box, and I see a flash of sparkling brilliance. Then he’s holding my hand, sliding the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen on my finger. The central diamond is round with a halo of smaller diamondssurrounding it—like Sante and I now with our closest loved ones all around.
I’m overwhelmed with joy. Radiantly happy. Incandescently in love.
“Sante—” I breathe.
“Mellie, you’re mine, my piccola ballerina, forever and always.”
Before I have a chance to burst into tears, he kisses me, and this time, the entire room erupts in riotous cheers.
I’m quickly swarmed with congratulations from the ladies as soon as the kiss ends. One after another, they give me hugs and beg me to show off my stunning new ring. Noemi holds off until the rush subsides, saving her congratulations for last. When she finally gets her turn at a hug, she holds me so tight I can’t possibly question the sincerity of her joy.
“Oh, Amelie. I’m so incredibly happy for you two.” Tears shine in her eyes when she pulls back with a warm smile. “And I’m so grateful to you for giving me my brother back.”
“I didn’t really do anything,” I say sheepishly, feeling a bit awkward from all the praise.
“Of course you did. You gave Sante a reason to love again. Your beautiful soul helped him heal, and now he’s back where he belongs. He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him, which thrills me, but I’m also overjoyed to get such a wonderful new sister.”
Now I’m tearing up, which sends us into another round of hugs.
“Thank you, Em,” I whisper, hoping she can hear me over the music but unable to speak any louder past the emotion constricting my throat.
“Okay, enough of the sappy stuff!” Noemi says with a grin, wiping the moisture from her eyes. “Tonight is about celebration. I’d say it’s time for a toast!”
Another round of cheers fills the air around us. The next hour is a brilliant blur of happiness—hugs, laughter, stories … more hugs—everything that makes family such a blessing.
Eventually, however, our group begins to thin as folks head home. I don’t complain. I’ve had enough champagne to give me the courage to test something I’ve daydreamed about for weeks.
“I think it’s time we head out as well,” I suggest to Sante.
“Your wish is my command.” Moments later, we get the keys from the valet and relax in the quiet of his car.
“Hey, babe?” I ask warily.
“Yeah?”
“I left something at the theater. I bet it’s locked up by now. Youuu … wouldn’t happen to knowww … how to sneak in, would you?” The answer is obviously yes—the man snuck in to stalk me for weeks—but I’m feeling playful.
“Yeah, I think I can make that happen.”
“Good because I’d prefer not to wait.”
Back at the theater, he shows me the side door he used to get in. The man has a damn key.
“How did you get that?” I gape at him. Here, I’d envisioned some sort of Spider-Man-style climb to an upstairs window. Not actually, but a key had never entered my mind.
“I stole it from security and made a copy.”
“Well, that’s a little alarming.”
“You’re telling me. That’s why I didn’t like you being in there alone. Who knows who else can get in,” he grumbles.
“If I’d known stalkers were so considerate, I would have found one ages ago.”
Sante bares his teeth, then takes a playful bite at the air. “Too late. And if anyone gets any ideas at this point, I’ll pluck their eyes right out of the sockets. Hard to obsess over someone you can’t see.”
I look at him, knowing he’s not joking in the slightest.