The corruption investigation that followed revealed his systematic abuse of power, confirming everything Dom and I had pieced together.
My resignation from the FBI was accepted without question, they're too busy damage-controlling to fight it.
"Any regrets?" Dom asks, his fingers tracing circles on my wrist.
"About us? No." I set my mug down. "About walking away from everything I thought I was? Sometimes."
The truth is, I'm still figuring out who I am without my badge. For years, being an agent defined me. Now I'm... what?
A pregnant ex-FBI agent living with a mafia don? It sounds like the setup to a bad joke.
"You don't have to decide everything today," Dom says, reading my thoughts as he often does. "January will be soon enough to think about what's next."
He's right. For now, I'm taking things day by day. Finding my footing in this new reality. Learning to trust Dom's world while holding onto the parts of mine that still matter.
"One step at a time," I agree.
Whatever comes next year, I'll face it with him beside me. And for today, that's enough.
We finish our hot chocolate and then Dom leads me downstairs. The living room glows with the soft light of the Christmas tree. I've never seen so many presents wrapped in thick paper with satin ribbons.
"This is excessive," I say, but can't help smiling as Dom hands me another package.
"You'll get used to it." He watches me with those intense eyes that still make my stomach flip. "I have years of Christmases to make up for."
I've already opened jewelry that costs more than my first car, cashmere sweaters soft as clouds, and a first edition of my favorite novel. Each gift shows how closely he's been paying attention all these weeks.
Dom reaches behind the tree. "One more."
The small velvet box makes my heart stutter. I know what this is. After all, he’s always saying, “As soon as she says yes, we’re getting married.” But I’ve been waiting for him to ask.
"I know this is fast. I know our world is complicated. But I've never been more certain of anything than us." He opens the box to reveal a stunning emerald-cut diamond set in platinum.
He takes my hand. "Marry me."
I look from the ring to his face, the moment feeling surreal. Two months ago, I was trying to put this man in prison. Now I'm carrying his child, living in his home, and am deeply in love with him.
"Yes.”
His smile is brilliant as he slides the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly, of course. Dom Vitale leaves nothing to chance.
After all the extravagant gifts and an engagement ring Dom has given me, my offerings seem modest in comparison.
"My turn," I say, reaching for the two small packages I'd hidden. I pass him the first one.
Finding the perfect gift for a man who can buy anything he wants proved nearly impossible.
What do you get someone who owns half of New York?
For weeks, I'd wandered through stores, rejecting everything as either too impersonal or too insignificant.
Dom unwraps the first package, lifting the lid to reveal a pair of silver handcuffs.
His eyebrows shoot up, followed by that dangerous smile that still makes me want to jump him. "Should I be concerned about your intentions, Agent Ricci?"
"Ex-agent," I correct, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. "I thought they might be... symbolic. Of where we started. And maybe useful for other things."
He laughs, the sound warm and rich. "I like how your mind works." He dangles them from one finger. "Though these are nicer than Bureau issue."
