Then relief follows, just as powerful.
She’s alive.
Not free. Not safe. But alive.
I can’t imagine what she must have been through. Three years in the hands of that monster. But the fact that she’s still alive, that I can still reach her if I’m fast enough?—
I turn to Giovanni, my chest heaving. “Thank you. For finding her. I’ll take it from here.”
“What?” He doesn’t even pause. “No.”
I frown. “Giovanni?—”
“We,” he corrects. “We’ll take it from here.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he steps closer.
“If you haven’t understood it yet,” he says gently, “you’re the one. You’re mine. That’s what themiaingemma miastands for.”
My breath catches.
He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small box. When he opens it, the light catches on a diamond ring so bright it almost hurts to look at.
“When we save Coral,” he says, steady and certain, “I’ll put this on your finger.”
My heart slams against my ribs.
“I’ll put your family back together,” he continues. “And then we’ll grow it. Ours.”
My eyes burn.
“Because the truth is,” Giovanni says, holding my gaze, “I’ve loved you since the day I saw you.”
I let out a shaky laugh, tears spilling freely now. “You’re insane.”
“Yes,” he agrees calmly. “But I’m serious.”
I look back down at Coral’s face. At proof. At truth.
Then back at the man who brought her back to me.
“Okay,” I say.
His eyebrows lift slightly.
“Let’s save Coral,” I say. “And then—” My voice breaks, but I smile through it. “Then let’s get married.”
He closes the box and pulls me into his arms.
I melt in his arms. It feels like a burden has been lifted off my shoulder, and I am now allowed to feel hopeful and look forward to a future. A good one.
Everything feels real. .
24
GIOVANNI
The facility is quiet in a way that feels earned.
