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For now, I’m going to let it go and spend the rest of the night with my future wife.

* * *

Gia sprawlson the bed with her tablet, sketching me as I read a book. “I’ve been thinking a lot tonight.”

I close the book and put it to the side, rolling onto my stomach to lie beside her on the bed. “About?”

“What happens next with my family. I know that I should be thinking about the engagement, but Mom and Zoe keep playing on a loop through my mind. I think they might die in this war, and it makes me sick.”

“Nothing has happened for the last few weeks.” I run my fingers up and down her tense spine, trying to get her to relax a little. “And I don’t care if you think about things other than the engagement, Gia. You love your family, and you want the best for them.”

“Can you promise me that your family isn’t going to kill mine?”

“You know I can’t.” My hand stills on her back before she moves the tablet to the side and curls up closer to me. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”

“Then at least promise me that through whatever comes next, you’re going to be there with me every step of the way.” She kisses my shoulder, her eyes shining. “I love you and I don’t think I can do this without you.”

“I’m going to be there for you. Every single step of the way. You’re going to get sick of me.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.” She snuggles into me and for the millionth time since she came back into my life, I have hope for the future.

Once upon a time, I thought I was born to be a killing machine, taking life at my father’s every whim and not giving a damn about the consequences. Gia was the one who made me start to see a different life. She didn’t give up on me when she should’ve.

Now I know I was born to love her.