Page 101 of Claimed By the Enemy

“I’m sure. Uncle Enzo and I made sure.”

“Uncle Enzo was there?”

“Uncle Enzo saved my life.”

Sophie’s eyes fill with tears. “Is it really over?”

“It’s really over. No more family feuds. No more lies. No more looking over our shoulders.”

“What about the baby?”

“The baby is going to grow up free. Free from all the poison that’s been destroying our families for sixteen years.”

Sophie kisses me then, soft and desperate and full of relief. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Both of you.”

“Both of us.”

“Sophie?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“What?”

I drop to one knee, pulling out the ring I’ve been carrying for three days. The same ring I gave her when we got married out of necessity, but now offered freely out of love.

“Sophie Bellini Moretti, will you marry me? Again? For real this time?”

Sophie’s hand flies to her mouth, tears streaming down her face. “Dom…”

“I know we’re already married. I know we’re already having a baby. But I want to do this right. I want to choose you, publicly and completely, with no threats or ultimatums or family pressure.”

“Yes.”

“I want to promise you forever, and mean it.”

“Yes.”

“I want our child to know that their parents chose each other out of love, not necessity.”

“Yes, Dom. Yes to all of it.”

I slip the ring onto her finger, the same finger where it’s been for weeks, but somehow it feels different now.

“I love you, Sophie Moretti.”

“I love you too, Domenico Moretti.”

Behind us, Raff starts clapping, and I realize Uncle Enzo has appeared in the doorway, smiling at the scene.

“Congratulations,” Uncle Enzo says. “Both of you.”

“Thank you,” Sophie says, wiping away her tears. “For everything.”

“No, Sophie. Thank you. For showing me that love is stronger than hatred. That the future is more important than the past.”