Page 108 of Savage Empire

And now I’ll never have it again. Not even if I admitted that I wanted it. Because I ruined it. I’ve ruined everything in the blink of an eye. I’ll be lucky if I’m allowed to continue breathing after what I’ve just done.

My life is quite literally flashing before my eyes. Memories of growing up, raising Yordan, and these past few weeks of peace especially. I just raised a gun to the future Capo of The Outfit. I justshotthe man who holds my family’s life in his hands.

“I understand that you need to punish me for this,” I croak, chin wobbling as I resist the urge to cry. “But don’t blame Yordan. Please don’t hurt him because I?—”

“Marry me.”

Record scratch.

“I—excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

No, I couldn’t have possibly heard him correctly. The gunshot must have fucked with my ears more than I thought.

“What is happening right now?” My hands shakily lift to my head, resting on either side of my temples to check that it’s still attached. “I just shot you! Why aren’t you demanding my execution? What the fuck, Apollo?”

He blinks, likehe’sthe confused one. “Execution? I broke into your home, of course you shot me.”

“Whydidyou break in?” I dare ask, hoping to make sense of this God forsaken incident.

“I heard banging and grunts from the hall,” he replies evenly. “I thought you were in danger.”

Oh great. He was trying to come to my rescue and I fucking shot him like a lunatic.

“Now I see that the only thing in danger was your…pastry dough? Do you always bake so violently?”

“No, I don’t. Not every time. Why are you being so calm? Your arm is bleeding!” I feel like I’m having some kind of drug-induced delusion. Is there any other explanation for this insanity?

“It doesn’t even hurt. Doc will patch me up when I leave.”

“And why aren’t you rushing to leave? Shouldn’t you want to get it looked at immediately?”

“I kicked your door in, Rayna. I’m not leaving you here until it’s fixed.” He gives me a look like I should have known, like his explanation is entirely reasonable. “Elio should be on his way, he’ll take care of it.”

If Elio is coming, does that mean Yordan is too? He’s going to be so upset and worried when he finds out.

Wait.

“Did you ask me to marry you?”

Apollo tilts his head. “Technically, I didn’t ask.”

“I need to sit down,” I say, swallowing hard. Clutching my stomach, I drop into one of the tall counter chairs, blowing out an unsteady breath.

Concern etches his brow as he takes the seat next to mine. “Are you all right?”

Disbelief bubbles out of me in a laugh. “I shoot you, and you askmeif I’m all right? God, Elio was right, your family really is insane.”

“Your family too, if you accept my offer.”

I still don’t believe whatever this marriage farce he’s trying to sell me. There’s absolutely no way Apollo is requesting to be my husband. This is some kind of joke or test or something—anythingelse makes more sense.

The fake engagement thing was a ridiculous rouse to get his father off his back, and nothing else. He’s never made it seemlike anything more. It was a means to an end. And now he’s trying to make it real?

“I thought you weren’t asking?” I swallow hard. “Why on earth would you want to marry me? I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”

“I’ve been considering it for weeks?—”