Page 44 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Evely n

I got to class on time for once. I have been living in peace with Dante.

Now that his father is out of the picture, I feel a whole Hell of a lot better about our relationship.

He will have to pick up extra work, since he is the only one to run the “family business” and all.

He said he has men who work for him, but he still prefers to do most of the work himself.

I pull out my phone to send a text to my parents:

Hey mom she gets it.

“I love him, Mom. He makes me feel… alive.”

She brings me in for a hug, and she strokes my hair.

“Then love him, sweetie. I can see the way he looks at you. He loves you, too.”

“I told him I loved him and he didn’t say it back,” I admit to her reluctantly.

“Honey, a man who is willing to kill for you doesn’t do it for nothing. They do it for love.”

I blink, confused at how my mother knows about Dante killing anyone.

“H-how do you know that?” I peer up at her through watery lashes.

“Dante came here to ask permission to marry you. He knew what it meant to you. In return, he told your father what he did. That way, if your father ever feels Dante has failed you, he has a form of blackmail.”

My tears subside and I wipe the residual dampness from my cheeks.

“Did you agree? Did father give him a blessing?”

“Well, your father laid out some… terms… if you will. Let me ask you something, Ev. Do you want to marry him?”

I take a deep breath and meet her eyes.

“Yes. I love him. I love him more than I have ever loved anyone.”

She smiles at me and wraps her arms around me, tightening them once more.

“Then you have our blessing.”

I hold my mother back, and we sit in peace for a good while. I always feel safe in her embrace.

* * *

We emerge from the stairs, and I carry an oversized suitcase full of items I have been missing. Dante and my father sit casually on the sofas, each drinking whiskey. Dante hurries to the stairs to take my bag for me, offering me his hand as I walk down the stairs.

My father stands as well, his eyes raking over my mother. Ew, gross. She smiles at him, and he nods to himself, as if they were having an unspoken conversation.

“Thank you for having us over. Maybe we could do this more often?”

My mother and father stand before me, giving me sincere smiles.

“Anytime, sweetheart. You and Dante are always welcome.”

My father’s words fill my heart to the point that it might explode. I rush up to him and give him a big hug. He gives me a tight squeeze before he releases.

“Take care of my daughter, Dante. I mean it.” He gives Dante a firm expression.

“I would do nothing less, Mr. Blackwell.” He nods at my father, and we walk out the front door.

Secretly, I’m hoping Dante will ruin my make-up later as he promised, but I keep the thought to myself. He always keeps his promises.