Page 141 of Forgotten Sacrifice

He peppers my lips with kisses as he tugs at the hem of my tank top, and I lift my arms as he removes it, tossing it next to his shirt.

“You have new ink,” he says with a smile, kissing the tiny fork next to my Queen tattoo. “Who wouldn’t fall for your trap?”

“You watched the game?” Tears threaten to fall yet again.

“My wayward queen’s come home, and I’m never letting her go.” Vince kisses each and every one of my scars before deftly unhooking my bra. With a devilish smile, he grabs his chef’s knife as he lifts my skirt and pulls my panties away from my body.

The fabric falls to the counter on the slice of his knife, and I gasp.

Laid bare, body and soul, Vince looks at me with so much love it makes me ache. “I’m going to fuck you like I’m obsessed with you, feed you like I cherish you, and marry you like I can’t live without you. In that order.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

I’m his and he’s mine. And that’sit.

Epilogue

Vince

“After all I did to make your restaurant the hottest place in town, and this is how you repay me?” Valentina stomps her foot. “Why does no one in this family acknowledge that I’m a wedding planner?”

I hold up my hands in surrender. “Sorry, but I wasn’t going to wait another second to marry Luna.” Now that I have my heart back, I’m never letting her go.

“And you.” Valentina points at Kat. “Lily and Darius. Now Luna and Vince. That’s two family weddings in a row; three, if you count your courthouse wedding.”

“It better fucking count.” Fabio appears behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Mazza. You’ve made an honest woman out of me.” Kat tilts her head and gives him a kiss before addressing Valentina. “When two people come to me desperately in love, you expect me to turn them away?”

“Yes! I have half a mind to bribe someone with the stateand have your wedding officiant license revoked.” Valentina snaps her fingers at the workers. “The claw machines go on this wall! Wedding cake on the center table!” She spins around, nearly running into Sam. “And will somebody call an exterminator?”

“Excuse me,” I say, spotting Darius and his family.

I jerk my head toward the kitchen, disappearing to the back. “It’s done?” I ask when Darius joins me.

“Well done. Except for my steak. You know I like that shit medium rare.”

“The proper way to enjoy a steak,” I agree.

My hand moves to my suit pocket for an envelope of cash, but Darius shakes his head. “Consider it a wedding gift.”

“Thanks.” I give him a hug with a back slap.

“My pleasure.” With Darius, it probably was. The man takes a little too much pride in his work. Not that I’m complaining.

Luna’s mom was terminal, after all.

Luna

“I’m good enough.” I smile, checking out my white skater dress in the mirror. Turning around, I get a side view: it shows off my ribcage moon tattoo with the backless design, and I’m being a bad girl by not wearing panties. I’ll let Vince discover that little surprise.

Locking up our apartment, I walk downstairs toRistoranteLuna. I mean, come on! No woman’s ever been Stockholm syndromed this damn hard.

A gasp escapes my lips when I enter the main dining room. The space has been transformed into an arcade, with yellow roses adorning every square inch. On the back wall, a brunch buffet is set up, with a cook manning the emoji waffle station.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Rossi!” Nicky’s the first to greet me, and we hug. “Glad you figureditout.”

I laugh. “Me too.”