“Is it done?” Florencia sweeps her gaze over the men and women.
“It is.”
Alejandro and Catalina respond together. The relief on the men’s faces is sweet. It’s clear how much they care for their wives and mothers. I believe it upset them more to know we got involved than it did the women when the men took off for Italy. We’re accustomed to them leaving, not knowing when they’ll return and often not knowing where they’re going.
It’s a taste of their own medicine in the worst way. They’re not equipped—not conditioned—for this kind of fear.
“Jandro, did things go well with Piero?”
“The best of all the meetings, but we’d expected that. They and the Torettas agreed with little negotiation.”
He arches an eyebrow at me. I know that means the other two syndicates likely lost a few hundred thousand euros, maybe even a few million. Serves them right for not acquiescing to my boyfriend. We won’t discuss more in front of Florencia, Madeline, and Anneliese.
It makes me feel guilty that they’re excluded, but they reassured me when we returned before the guys that they don’t want to know more. Ignorance is bliss. They feel badly that I know as much as I do.
Perhaps Alejandro will tell me everything—or maybe a fraction, but I won’t press to know. I won’t put him in the position of refusing me or feeling guilty over divulging too much to me. This is syndicate life homeostasis. The men return; the women greet them, and whatever happened while the family was apart ceases to exist. We all trust that whatever separated us is resolved.
For Catalina, Margherita, Elle, Luciana, and me, it is. Yuri’s dead. He can’t spread any more lies about Alejandro. The Volkovs understand they’re on notice—with everyone. Rurik called Enrique before we got on the plane. Matáis explained Rurik made some sort of restitution, and Enrique’s satisfied. How things stand with Maks isn’t my problem, but I know it’s not good.
That’s putting it mildly.
Alejandro hugs his father, and it appears that Matáis passes something to Alejandro, but I can’t tell what it is. All of us move into the living room, and the couples take seats while Joaquin sits with Luciana. He drapes his arm over the back of the loveseat casually, but it’s clear he’s hovering over hismamà.
Before I can sit, Alejandro shifts his hand in mine and lowers himself to one knee. I gulp, a lump forming in my throat.
Is he?
Oh, shit, he is!
“Mi amor, I knew when we met you changed my life. You impressed me and intrigued me when you came to New York. I fell for you in the club, and I fell in love with you in the hotel. I didn’t realize how deeply until we fought alongside each other for the future we’re destined for. You’re my soulmate and the one person I want to create a life with. Will you marry me?”
“Sì, amore mio.” Yes, my love.
I’m too emotional to speak English or Spanish, reverting to Italian. Alejandro rises after slipping the ring on my finger, and I nearly knock him over as I dive into his arms. The kiss we share would have parents covering their sons’ eyes if they could reach. We keep it short, but it’s intense.
“Chiquita,I love you more than life.” Alejandro whispers this to me, keeping his pet name private, even though I’m certain the other men call their women that too.
“I love you too, Daddy.” I whisper just as quietly, a secret I’m sure I share with the other women.
Never did I imagine the man I set out to kill would be the one man who makes me feel alive.
Epilogue
Alejandro
I roll onto my side to gaze at my wife as we lie on a double beach lounger. I can’t believe today’s our fifth wedding anniversary. We’re back in the Seychelles where we honeymooned. We’ve been here for a week, and we’ll spend another one here.
“What’re you thinking about, Daddy?”
“How’d I get so lucky?”
“You’ve asked me that nearly every day for five years. How do you not know the answer yet? You’re mostly perfect most of the time.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m lucky.”
We’ve had this talk over and over because I’m still in disbelief that my soulmate is this intelligent, resilient, fearless, and kind person. She grins at me as she rolls onto her side to face me.
“You hit the genetic jackpot, and you’re fucking sexy as fuck. That’s your luck. How could I not fall for you?”
