Page 71 of Bound in Blood & Chains

I've earned this. I've earned happiness.

Olivia is by Harvee and Diego, fawning over little Lincoln, and the sight of her does something brutal and tender all at once. My heart goes soft immediately. I want this life with her. I wantall of it, every loud family dinner, every quiet morning, every version of forever she lets me build beside her.

I walk up behind them, drop to one knee, and pull the ring free.

The room breaks around us in a wave of gasps. Aunt Val makes a startled sound that turns into a sob. Olivia's mother rises from the far side of the table, already recording on her phone, her eyes shining with tears. Olivia turns slowly, like her body understands what's happening before her mind does.

"Olivia," I say, and my throat goes dry halfway through her name.

"Raul," she breathes, shocked and trembling and beautiful in a way that nearly wrecks me.

I hold the ring out with a hand that's somehow steady despite everything crashing through me. "You've been my rock. You've shown up for me over and over again, even when I fought you every step of the way. You gave me a reason to keep going when I didn't deserve one. You stubborn ass, you refused to give up on me, and I'll never stop being grateful for that. I know I still don't deserve you, but I'll spend the rest of my life trying to earn you. I'm completely, hopelessly devoted to you, Olivia. Will you marry me?"

Her face crumples in the most beautiful way, tears spilling free as she laughs and cries at once.

"A thousand times, yes. Finally."

And just like that, my whole past loses its grip on me. The guilt, the fear, the years of waiting and bleeding and hoping all fall away into nothing. Nothing matters now except the future opening in front of us, bright and terrifying and ours.

I have waited long enough. Our forever starts now.