Page 66 of Angel of Light (Lords of The Commission: New York #5)

She sat in one of the pews, her own white dress now a dusty mess, her hair a bit out of place, her eyes wide and staring into nothing. Yup, she was in shock. Jimmy appeared at her side, helping her stand on unsteady legs. “Easy, Miss Dornier. You’re okay. Everything’s okay now.”

I watched as she leaned into him, her composure finally cracking. Today, she’d been through a kind of hell she never knew, and it showed in every line of her expression.

“Camila,” I called out, and she looked up from where she was still cradling Vincenzo’s head. “Go to Diego. He’s your family. We’ll take care of Vincenzo.”

She hesitated, torn between the man she loved and the brother who’d just tried to kill him.

“Go,” Vincenzo urged softly. “He needs you.”

Camila pressed a kiss to Vincenzo’s temple, promising she’d be back before standing and walking over to where Diego lay groaning. The sight of his sister seemed to calm him, his face relaxing slightly as she knelt beside him. Diego was bleeding profusely, but he’d live.

“You always were too stubborn for your own good,” she murmured, pressing her hand to his uninjured shoulder. “You don’t have to be like Papa. You can be ruthless and let people love you at the same time.”

“Is he okay?” Alison asked, still caged in my arms.

“You shot me, what do you care?” Diego said bitterly.

“I did. And I’d do it again. Maybe you’ll come for coffee with a bulletproof vest next time.”

“Very funny,” He replied, coughing until he almost passed out.

“He likes my jokes,” Alison told me when I shot her a questioning glare.

Under the attentive stare of Fabio and Fabrizio, the cartel men stashed their weapons in a corner before collecting their wounded and retreating.

Matt approached us, his expression a mixture of pride and concern. “That was some sharp shooting, Principessa . It seems like it’s like riding a bike. Nonno always said she was the best he’d seen.”

I felt a surge of pride watching my angel handle herself in the aftermath of violence. She’d saved my life today, and probably Vincenzo’s too. My badass mafia princess.

The sirens were getting closer now, and I knew we had minutes before the authorities arrived. But there was something I needed to do first. Something that couldn’t wait another second.

I looked around the destroyed cathedral at the people I’d come to think of as family, at the chaos that had somehow brought us all together. I realized that, sometimes, the most important moments come in the aftermath of destruction.

“Mr. Dornier,” I called out, my voice carrying across the cathedral.

Alison’s father looked up from where he was trying to soothe Adrianne.

I took a deep breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I want to ask you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

“No. Absolutely not.” He replied immediately, not needing to think about his answer.

“Dad!” Alison laughed from beside me.

“I know this isn’t how it’s supposed to be done,” I continued, my voice getting stronger with each word.

“But I can’t waste another breath without knowing that she’s mine.

I love your daughter. I love her more than my own life, more than any code, or loyalty, or duty.

She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that I’m worthy of her. ”

Adrian studied me for a long moment, his expression stern, ready to say no again until he looked at Alison, and I felt her nod.

“I’ll accept if Alison wants me to.”

I turned to Matt, who was watching this exchange with careful eyes. “Once, you said it would be an honor. Do you still feel the same way? Because I’d appreciate your blessing, but there’s nothing on this earth that’s going to keep me away from her now. Not again.”

Matt’s stern expression softened slightly. “She’s not my princess anymore, Max. She’s her own queen. And queens make their own decisions. But you have my blessing to ask her.”

I turned back to Alison, who was watching me with wonder and love, a small smile bending her perfect lips. God, I wanted to kiss them forever.

“Alison,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve been an idiot. I’ve been scared and stupid, and I’ve hurt you more times than I can count. But I love you. I love you so much it terrifies me.”

Her eyes filled with tears, but she remained silent, allowing me to continue.

“I don’t have a ring to give you right now, but,” I went down on one knee, holding her hand with both of mine. Before I could continue, Adrianne came to me and placed a ring she pulled off her finger into my hand.

“Thank you,” I smiled, holding it out towards the love of my life, “Alison, will you marry me? Will you be my wife, my partner, my everything? Will you let me spend the rest of my life loving you the way you deserve to be loved?”

The tears were flowing freely down her cheeks now, but she was smiling that radiant smile that had captured my heart from the very beginning.

“Yes,” she whispered, then louder, “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll marry you.”

I slipped the ring onto her finger, my hands shaking with emotion. Then I stood and pulled her into my arms, kissing her with everything I had. Around us, cheers erupted from our family, the sound echoing off the damaged walls of the cathedral.

When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against hers.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“I love you, too,” She replied. “Forever.”

Somewhere in heaven, my mother was cheering, too. Watching her little boy find love in a life made of pain and chaos.

Because, Alison?

She’s life and death and every breath in between.