Page 178 of Dancing with the Devil

“Yes, you can have a cat.”

“Even though you’re allergic?”

His voice was soft and tiny. “Even though I’m allergic, yeah.”

“But, you’ll get sick…”

“Yes, butyou’llstill be with me,” he said and I felt my stomach fill with butterflies. “I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. Nothing, will ever stop me from having you be mine. My wife. The mother of my children. The woman I want to grow old with. It’syou, Nirah.”

Different tears—happy tears—filled my eyes as I lowered to my knees, wrapping my arms around his neck. I buried my face in his shoulder, feeling him hold me against his body.

He lifted me as he stood up and I wrapped my legs around his waist, not letting go.

He had confessed all of his feelings right then and there. He was vulnerable with me. His reasoning behind it was that I would’ve hated him.True. That I would not have agreed to anything he’d set out in front of me.Also true.

He was afraid. Antonio De Luca was afraid of losing me. He had no fears. Until he met me. Losing me became his biggest fear. His worst nightmare. And all I could do was sit back and watch the strong, emotionless devil reveal his truths to me. I became the source of all his fears—they all revolved around me.

I never thought I could have so much power over someone, much less a man like him. But I did. And I wouldn’t dare use it against him. Because in the end, his feelings were mine.

I felt every emotion he did. It was inevitable.

Although he had lied to me, I still couldn’t find enough strength to end things with him right now.

* * *

One minute I was putting a bullet through my father’s chest. The next I was crying because my fiancé lied to me. And the next I was crying because my fiancé—now husband—surprised me by flying our friends and family out for the celebration.

Never, have I felt so many emotions in a single day. But, it all came together with two simple words.‘I do.’

I called the shots today. I made it clear that I wanted a wedding. No family drama, no lying husband and no more interruptions.

I hadn’t forgiven him just yet, but his reasoning took away some of the hurt and betrayal I felt. Plus, everyone was here. I already disappointed them once by disappearing. I couldn’t do it a second time.

After our conversation in the room, he asked me to go somewhere with him, so I did. He brought me to a beautiful wedding venue that made my face light up immediately. The sun had already set, so the lights illuminated the venue beautifully.

Everyone was already here, hiding and waiting for me to arrive.

They were too happy about us finally being married to even be upset that we had run away. Of course, Silvia was a little sad because she was my maid of honor, but she brushed it off.

And, it all came together when I heard barking and my eyes immediately found my little brown bundle of joy in the arms of Amelia.

My smile grew as big as it possibly could, and when I walked towards him, he started wiggling out of her arms and leaped into mine.

“Hey boy,” I smiled as he licked my face. I pulled back, holding him up in the air. “Did you miss me?” I asked, and he barked in excitement, wagging his tail. I brought him close to my chest, holding him tightly. I missed my little guy.

After some catching up—gossiping—with Kingsley, I cleaned my face where he had licked and handed him over to Ezekiel—Aurora’s eldest son.

It seemed as though he was the only child here. Probably because he was seventeen and the eldest grandkid.

Antonio eventually appeared at my side. “Come with me.”

I nodded, following behind him. “I don’t think the bride and groom should disappear from their wedding,” I teased as he led me away.

“Too late for that, don’t you think?” he grinned back at me, and I playfully rolled my eyes.

He opened the door to a room and froze.

“Oh. My. God,” my hands flew to my mouth as my eyes grew wider and wider.