Sixty Two |

                                    

                                          



Sixty Two |
Without Gabriele here, I was afraid to sleep. He always calmed me down and especially with how Alexsei continued to plague my dreams—it frightened me. So instead, I wandered the house. It was even quieter at night so I found myself making a cup of coffee and taking it outside. I sat on the edge of the pool with my legs dipped in the water. The night was hot with a cool breeze that passed every so often which made my legs in the water feel so much better. I had always wondered why rich people bought pools only to never use them but now I understood—they didn't have time. Or maybe it's because once you had something it's appeal melted away into that of dull and boring.  
Maybe that's why Gabriele hadn't come back yet.  
"No, you're being dramatic," I whispered to myself, blinking back tears of hurt.  
I didn't know why he wasn't back yet—it was silly to start naming things that would just make me feel shitty. He could be hurt. My heart dropped at the thought. I'd rather him just not want me ten times over than him be hurt and dying somewhere.  
Behind me the back door opened. My eyes rolled as I expected Marco.  
"You can take the rest of it," I told him without turning, "I'm good." 
There was silence.  
"I said--" I groaned, swivelling around to inhale sharply, "Gabriele." 
He stood in all his glory. Dressed in an expensive suit and his hair gelled back in a delicious way. I licked my lips carefully as I took in the nervous look on his face. Mentally, I began preparing myself for his rejection. I counted to ten in my head before pushing myself up and placing my cup on the floor. My feet left wet footprints as I walked over to him and I could feel the disgusting feeling of debris sticking to my feet but I didn't care. He was alright, and safe and not hurt at all. Hell, he looked good. Fucking amazing in fact.  
Which meant that the latter was true.  
If he didn't want me anymore, I'd rather him say it now and get it over with.  
"You're late," I joked softly.  
He nodded his head, "I'm sorry." 
"Why are you so serious?" I forced a laugh that came out strangled and too high pitched, "This isn't like you. Did something happen?" 
His feet shifted slightly, and he dropped his gaze, "I have been thinking of what you said. I took some time to reflect with Lorenzo and I realized many things."  
Here it came--I swallowed down the lump in my throat.  
But he didn't reject me. Instead, he dropped down to one knee making me gasp loudly. My eyes bulged and I grabbed his shoulder quickly. I could feel my face heat and as he present himself on one knee, he gently took my hand.  
"I am a terrible man," he began, "And still, somehow you love me. It may be true that you don't know everything about me but you know me. You know who I am and still accept this—and even stand by my side. In truth, I knew the moment I saw you at Mia's funeral that you'd be a problem to my heart and I was right. You stole it from me, and I have no interest in requiring it back." 
Tears filled my eyes, "G-gabriele..." 
"Let me finish," he growled, pressing his lips to my hand, "I now rest on my knees in front of you not as a powerful and sexy don but as a man. A simple man who has realized he needs you in his life. I want nothing else--I want no one else. Poppy Blake, will you marry me?" 
I sobbed loudly, and nodded my head, "Y-yes!" 
He grinned pulling a little black box from his pocket and opening it. Inside was the prettiest ring I'd ever seen. I gasped loudly through my tears. It was a golden ring with a large diamond in the center and blue saphires on either side followed by emeralds lining the band. He took my finger gently and pushed the ring past my knuckle before standing. I leaned up, grabbing the sides of his face with my hands before kissing him. Instantly, his arms wrapped around me and he lifted me into him. I moaned, desire filling me.