Page 22 of Ivory Sins

“Hey,” I say, catching her gaze. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She nods, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Just glad it’s over, you know?”

I give her a soft smile and pull her closer.

I take a deep breath. This is it.

“Olivia,” I say, my voice unexpectedly rough. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

Her eyes meet mine, curious and bright in the firelight. I step back, reach into my pocket, and lower myself to one knee. Her hand flies to her mouth as I reveal the ring—an emerald surrounded by diamonds that match the green of her eyes.

“You and I have been through hell and back. We’ve faced death, betrayal, and more bloodshed than most people see in a lifetime. But through it all, you’ve been my constant. I can’t promise youa normal life—we both know that’s not who we are—but I can promise you my heart, my loyalty, and my protection until my last breath.” I take her hand. “Olivia Bellanti, will you marry me?”

Tears spill down her cheeks as she nods, speechless for a moment.

“Yes,” she finally whispers. “Yes, Marco.”

I slip the ring onto her finger and stand to pull her into my arms, holding her close as the fire crackles beside us, illuminating the start of our future together.

Olivia

I stare at the emerald ring on my finger, mesmerized by how it catches the firelight. The weight of it feels strange but perfect, like it was always meant to be there. Marco’s arms around me feel like home. It feels safe, warm, certain.

I take a deep breath, a sense of peace washing over me. It’s over—the drama, the stalking, the bloodied dolls, the bloodshed, all over.

Marco and I are starting fresh, turning to a new page. We’ve survived too much not to deserve this happiness.

“I want a fall wedding,” I tell him, tilting my head to look up at him. “Something small, just family and close allies. Maybe at the vineyard?”

Marco’s smile is soft as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Whatever you want, tesoro. It’s yours.”

I smile and lean into him, already picturing our future together. The ring glints on my finger, a promise of everything to come.

My phone chimes in my pocket. I reach for it without thinking, my smile fading as I read the message from an unknown number.

“You thought Enzo was the only secret? You were wrong. I’m coming for you, Olivia Bellanti.”

My blood runs cold, and I pull away from Marco instinctively.

“Ollie, what’s wrong?” Marco’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

I look up at him, my heart thudding hard against my chest. I can’t find my voice.

“Ollie?”

For a moment, darkness closes in, suffocating me, and I feel like I’m staring into an abyss with nothing to catch me.

But then I feel it—the weight of the ring, the warmth of Marco beside me. I look at the emerald, then at the man who’d burn the world down for me.

“Nothing,” I say, quickly deleting the message and pocketing my phone. I reach up to touch his face. “Nothing we can’t handle together.”

His eyes narrow slightly—he knows me too well—but he doesn’t push. Instead, he pulls me closer, his lips finding mine in a kiss that feels like a promise.

Whatever’s coming will have to face us both. If our enemies haven’t learned by now, Marco and I are most dangerous when we’re fighting for each other.

As we walk back to the house, hand in hand, my engagement ring catching the last light of day, I know our story isn’t over. There will be new threats, new enemies, new battles.

But for now, we have this moment. We have our love. We have our future.

And God help anyone who tries to take that from us.

THE END