Page 101 of Vengeful Vows

Gently he captures my shoulders. His grip is light enough that I can escape if I want, but I don’t even try.

“I love you, Bella. It’s taken me a lot of courage to admit it to myself, even more to tell you. I would give my life for yours.”

“Nico…” I begin to shake.

“I have no expectations, little flower.”

Little flower.His use of the nickname is enough to undo me. “I love you, Nico.”

“You do not deserve what I did to you, and I will regret my actions for the rest of my life.” He strokes his thumb along my cheekbone. “I have no right to ask for a second chance, but if you can somehow find your way to accept me back”—he swallows hard—“I will spend every one of my remaining days making it up to you.”

My heart overflows. “I don’t want to face a future without you.”

“I’ll do my best to be the man you deserve.”

Tears stream down my face, and the breeze blows my hair around us. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted, Nico.”

As he lowers himself to one knee, he pulls a platinum band from his pocket. “Will you be the wife of my heart? I pledge my love and devotion to you.”

Giddy with joy, I laugh and cry at the same time. “Yes, yes, yes, Nico!”

He slides the band into place, and tomorrow when I’m back home, I will add the others to it.

He kisses me deeply and passionately, letting me know what to expect next. Then he captures my hand tightly and leads me back into the ballroom.

Before we can escape the party, Amelia and Sean intercept us.

“You can’t leave yet,” she insists. “It’s almost time for the countdown, and you two definitely need to start the new year the right way.”

Nico growls. “That’s what I was planning.”

She props her hands on her hips and leans forward. “You can wait a bit longer.” Her glare is so ferocious that he looks to me for guidance.

“Can we stay for a few minutes?”

“If it makes you happy, little flower.”

With a triumphant grin, Amelia puts ridiculous, pointy hats on both of us while Sean offers noisemakers.

Seeing the badass Moretti consigliere in a party hat makes me laugh. If this doesn’t prove how much he loves me, nothing will.

As midnight nears, Amelia ushers us onto the dance floor. With ten seconds until the new year, the crowd begins a raucous countdown, and he joins along with me.

When we reach one, the DJ shouts out, “Happy New Year!”

Hundreds of black and gold balloons drop from the ceiling, along with thousands of streamers.

Nico wraps me in his arms as we say goodbye to the year that was and embrace the new one that lies ahead.

I have no idea of what it will bring, but as long as he is by my side, I know we can face anything.

He kisses me with a consuming passion that’s a tease of what he has in store for me. “You have a room?”

“I do.”

“I need to have you alone.”

Quickly we say goodnight to Sean and Amelia who are so deep into their own private celebration that they barely acknowledge us.