Page 163 of The Devil's Heir

"I don't want to be seen as just a baby-maker for you. I know that's what I started as, but now I want more. I want us, Jarek. You and me. I know who you are, but not everything you do has to be bad. We can do good in this town…" Lily's words trail off.

I'm beginning to see where this is going.

Taking a few steps closer, Lily looks up at me as I stare down at her. "I'm not going to this meeting to make peace, Lily. Rossi will die, and I don't want you anywhere near that. It's bad enough you were involved in Carmen's death, but I don't want any more blood on these hands," I tell her as I take each of her hands in mine.

"Why must everything end in death?" Lily asks.

"It doesn't, but this does. Otherwise, we will be looking over our shoulders every day, and I will not have you or my son live like that. I do want to do good, too, pauper, but with good comes the bad, and it can't always be helped."

"Well, I don't like it," she states stubbornly, and I grin.

"I know, but I'll be back before you know it, and then we can start on the next phase," I smirk.

"What's the next phase?" Lily scrunches her nose up.

This isn't how I wanted to do it, but I guess now is as good a time as any. I kneel on one knee and keep Lily's left hand in mine. Reaching into my pocket where I put the box only an hour ago when I left the jewelry store, I gaze into Lily's eyes.

Lily covers her mouth with her hand as her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. Hopefully, she's not answering me before I even ask.

"Liliana Sumner. I have loved you for the past five years. I've almost lost you twice now, and I never want to feel that loss again. I need you in my life. You're the light to my darkness, an angel in disguise, and you've captured this devil's black heart. I want to spend the rest of our days loving and protecting you. I want to forsake all other women just to spend my lifetime with you. Will you do me the honor and marry your devil?"

Tears stream down her face, and even though I love the way she cries, I'm too nervous to think about it. I don't know what I was thinking. Lily may love me, but she's never talked about marriage. What if I've done too much damage for her to truly forgive my past transgressions?

"Yes…"

All the voices in my head stop babbling as soon as that one-word leaves Lily's mouth.

"You will?" I ask like an idiot.

She nods and smiles through her tears. "Yes. I'll marry you, Jarek."

My hands shake as I finally open the box to reveal the seven-carat princess-cut diamond ring with a diamond band. I remove it from the box and slip it onto her finger.

"Fits perfect," I whisper.

I think I'm in shock. I can't believe she said yes!

"It's gorgeous, but it's too much. What if I lose it?" Lily holds her hand out, admiring the rock.

"Then I'll buy you another one. Nothing is too much for you, Liliana." I stand, and she allows me to pull her into my arms this time.

I take her lips with mine and kiss her deeply, leaving no room for any doubt about my love. We may have a lot to work out, but I will never give my pauper a reason to doubt my feelings for her.

SEVENTY-TWO

Liliana

I sit in the rocker by the window, rocking Keirnan as I stare at the boulder on my left ring finger.Did I really say yes to marrying the devil?I've fallen in love with my bully, and now I'm going to be his wife. How did I get here?

A smile creeps up on my lips as the memory of this morning's lovemaking plays back in my head. When Jarek told me he was leaving yesterday, I was pissed that he wasn't taking me with him. Then he popped the question, and I forgot about him leaving today until he reminded me when I woke up.

Jarek made it all better by doing what he does best, making me scream his name. Poor Keirnan woke up screaming—I felt horrible.

Now that Jarek is halfway to Italy by now, all I can do is hope that he comes back to me safely. If anything happens to him after everything we've been through, not even hellfire will stop me from killing a motherfucker.

Look at that. Even my language is beginning to sound more like Jarek's. I sigh and look down at our son.

"Your father is corrupting your mama." I smile.