The dam breaks. “Why would you do that?”
He swipes away the tears on my cheeks. “Because you’re mine and I take care of what’s mine.”
A sob rips through my chest, and he catches it, pressing his lips to mine, his touch soothing even as his body fights its own pain.
“I thought you left me again,” I whisper, hating how small my voice sounds.
His eyes darken, his grip tightening. “Never. I’ll never leave you again. Not unless you ask me to.”
His words wrap around me, filling the hollow parts, the broken parts. I let myself believe them. Because D’Angelo gave me more than just his liver. He gave me his life. And I’ll spend the rest of mine making sure he never regrets it.
I let out a shaky breath, overwhelmed by his sacrifice and the way his lips brush over my knuckles like a silent vow.
“If this is your way of grovelling, you’ll have to do better than that.” A smile breaks through the tears.
A rough sound escapes him—half a chuckle, half a groan. “What donating an organ isn’t enough for you?”
Tears slip from my lashes, my emotions unravelling as I grip his hand, still in awe that he did that for me.
“If you want me on my knees, all you have to do is ask.” His lips trail to my ear as he whispers, “I’m not above begging, fiore mio. It won’t be the first time I’ve been on my knees for you this week, and until you’re well, it won’t be the last.”
“You prayed for me?”
“Of course I did. You’re mine. You’ve been mine for longer than you realise.” His fingers trace slow, careful circles over the back of my hand. “I don’t just donate organs to anyone. Isn’t it obvious? I’m in love with you. Always have been.”
“What happened to hating me?” I raise an eyebrow, knowing now, he never hated me, just like I never really hated him, despite how much I wanted to.
“I hate how you’re the first thing I think about in a morning and the last thing at night. How you consume my every thought. But most of all, I hate how you keep putting yourself in danger for me when I should be the one taking care of you. My brave flower.” His fingers stroke the hair from my forehead.
I gulp down the jumble of words in my throat. So many things I want to say, but looking into his eyes, he knows them already. “You have taken care of me, Dan. All this time…” I remember what he said, about being the one to put Magnus in prison all those years ago. “You were taking care of me from the shadows. I don’t know how long I would’ve survived that life?—”
“Shhh.” His lips press to mine, silencing the sob about toescape. “You’re a warrior. You not only survived, but you raised our son alone. And if you’ll marry me, I’ll spend the rest of my life grovelling, with one exception.”
“What’s that?”
“You beg for my dick in the bedroom.” His lips quirk into that cheeky grin that I love.
“Please don’t make me laugh. I’m in pain.”
He brings my hand to his lips, peppering kisses down my arm. “I was ready to die for you, Rose.” He leans in, pressing his lips to my wrist, just above my pulse. “But living for you is all I want now.”
My chest tightens, my heart breaking open and mending itself in the same moment. I tug at his hand weakly, trying to bring him closer. “Kiss me,” I whisper.
His breath hitches, and even though pain flickers across his face, he leans in. His mouth meets mine—soft at first, careful, like he’s afraid I’ll break. But I press into him, tasting the exhaustion on his lips, the relief, the love that neither of us has words for.
He sighs against my mouth, pulling away just enough to rest his forehead against mine. “As soon as you’re able to walk, you’ll be walking down the aisle so I can make you my wife.”
A small, breathless laugh escapes me. “Is that a proposal?”
He smirks, his fingers brushing my cheek. “No, Rose. It’s a fact, trust me.”
“What happened to Magnus?” I hold my breath, hating how the mere mention of his name makes Dan’s face contort.
“My cousin Riccardo is looking for him. He'll get what's coming to him. But you’re my priority.”
“I want to see him. I want my divorce.” I need to put my own ghosts to rest.
Dan studies me for a moment as if thinking about it. “When you're well. We can deal with him together.”
