Epilogue

I sit at table twenty in Antonio's. It's Thursday at five fifty-five. My assigned bodyguard, Boris, sits by the window. He doesn't speak much, but he's always around. I'm starting to get used to it.

I look up as the door opens. I smile. It's Rocco, a whole five minutes early.

He had business to attend to today. So, I came straight from work. Work…now that's been a difficult topic with him.

When he took me home after the kidnapping, I felt like he was kidnapping me. He wanted to keep me held hostage at his compound. It took the entire weekend and Monday to talk sense into him.

It took two more weeks for me to make sense of everything that had happened.

It took another four weeks of therapy for me to realize that I was falling for Rocco, despite his alpha, playboy tendencies. And it took another two weeks for me to admit that to Rocco.

But it's been two months since then, and somehow, I've managed to figure out how to be a girlfriend to a mafia kingpin.

I've kept my little apartment and my job at the art museum. But I spend most of my nights at his place. I have no idea what will happen in the future, but as of now, I'm figuring it out one day at a time.

Rocco leans down and kisses my cheek as Antonio steps forward with a glass of wine for each of us.

"How was your day, tesoruccia?" he asks as he sits and reaches over to take my hand in his. This is our weekly date night. We've kept our tradition. It was tough at first, coming here. I'd jump at every sound, but I was determined not to let that night ruin my memories of this place. And slowly, I've made new memories that have replaced the only bad night here.

"It was good," I say as I take a sip of wine.

A couple comes in and sits at a table on the far side of the restaurant. Rocco rubs his thumb along mine, and I smile down at our joined hands.

"They met on a dating app. She's a barista and he's a bioengineer, but he moonlights as a stripper," I begin.

Rocco's chest shakes with laughter, and I grin.

Antonio sets down our chicken parmesan, but Rocco keeps his hand on mine. He leans over and plants a kiss on my lips.

"I fucking love you, Lena," he whispers as he stares into my eyes.

I swallow down the sudden emotion that bubbles up inside me. "I love you too, Rocco," I reply.

"Now, tell me more about this couple, I could use the distraction," he says.

"Bad day at the office, dear?" I tease.

He shrugs and looks at me. "It doesn't matter. As long as I can come home to you."

And I smile at him. Maybe, just maybe, this crazy life we have together was always meant to be.

* * *

Want to learn more about Bryce Gallagher? He helps another family in Island (Deceitful Destiny Series Book 1).