Page 83 of Vengeful Devotion
He pulls back. “We don’t have to go. I can take you to bed and fuck you all goddamn night. Just say the word.”
I laugh, putting my hands on his shoulders. “You can’t miss this. You’ve worked hard getting this club ready to open. It’s time to celebrate that.”
“If you say so,” he sighs, like a little kid who just lost his favorite toy. He pulls my panties into place before stepping back and smoothing my dress. His hand lingers on my bare thigh.
“Declan.”
“What?”
“Let’s go.”
“Fine,” he replies. “But don’t think I’m not bringing you back here and fucking your brains out later.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
He grabs my hand and leads me out of our bedroom. Everyone is waiting by the door for us. Everyone but Francine. Declan looks at me. I can see in his eyes how hurt he is. His mother hasn’t spoken to him in weeks. But I really thought she’d make an appearance tonight, if for no other reason than to support her son publicly.
Declan and I climb into the first car while everyone else piles into the vehicles behind us. I look around our car. The new rookie that just came to us from Ireland last week is driving. Grady is sitting in the front seat next to him. As the rookie steers us away from the house, I realize something.
I turn to look at Declan. “You never told me what you chose for a name.”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
I roll my eyes. The city lights sparkle ahead of us. I can’t help but smile when I see them. When I first came to Vegas, I had no intention of staying. It was just a pit stop on my way to freedom. But now, I can’t imagine leaving. This place is home.
We pull up to the club. The washed-out brick building is sleek, but I’m surprised to see the parking lot completely empty. For a man as connected as Declan, I thought opening night would be a madhouse.
“Are we early?”
“We’re right on time,” Declan says as Grady brings the car to a stop.
He helps me out of the car. My heels click against the concrete. “But there’s no one here.”
Scanning the street, the only sign of life I see is us and the rest of Declan’s family. I spin to look at the club. It’s quiet. The dark night illuminated by the bright neon sign hanging above the door. I squint my eyes to read it.
“Wildflower? You were supposed to name it after something that reminds you of home. Not me.”
I turn back towards Declan to find him kneeling before me with an open ring box. My heart drops into my stomach. Taking my ability to breathe with it. Tears burn my eyes as Declan opens his mouth.
“Gemma De Luca, you are my home. You’re everything to me and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Marry me, wildflower.”
My hands fly to face, quickly wiping tears away as I nod my head. “Yes. Yes, of course, I’ll marry you.”
A smile lights up his face. He slips the oval-shaped diamond onto my finger. Declan kisses me. Applause breaks out around us. But Declan doesn’t care. He pries my lips open, sealing his promise to love me for the rest of my life. Declan pulls away, but only after he’s left me breathless.
“I love you.”
I look up at him, tears still in my eyes. “I love you, kingpin.”
“I have one more surprise,” he says.
He tilts his head toward the door. My jaw drops when I look over.
“Lia?”
My cousin stands there with two men I don’t know. I walk towards her. She’s different. Before I left, she was full of life and happy. Now, there’s a pain haunting her beautiful smile. When I reach her, I say nothing. I just loop my arms around her shoulders and hug her.
“I’ve missed you, Gem,” Lia says.
