Epilogue

Epilogue
Tatiana

A year later

The sound of my heels hitting the marble floor echo through the lobby of the new office building we have just acquired. This place will function as the new headquarters of the Romina Empire in Staten Island. 

For months, I’ve been thinking of finding a new place, somewhere closer, to work with Tony and the Saints, and this was a great deal I couldn’t turn down.

Lines of men from both my sides bow their heads at me as I head for the elevator, greeting me as soon as I arrive. It still astonishes me, even after all these months, how they address me with so much respect. 

I earned my place, I know that, but it still surprises me. 

At first, when I accepted this position, I was afraid they’d only follow me because of who my father was. But, with time, I proved myself worthy of it, and I can feel their loyalty through their every word and action. 

I never take it for granted, though. And I never want them to feel unappreciated.

I know how that scars you.

We have been through so much together already. And they always had my back, walking through fire for me. I couldn’t have asked for better people to go through all of this with.

As soon as I get to the top floor, I head for my office at the end of the hallway. It’s late at night, so the place is empty, but as soon as I get to the door, I realize I’m not alone.

Angelo is waiting for me, seated on the leather couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He has removed the blazer from his suit, and has rolled his sleeve up to his elbow, revealing the anchor tattoo on his forearm that  I love so much. He’s decided to let his hair grow, so the curls are falling over his eyes and ears, and boy, does he look hot.

“Good evening, Boss,” he greets with a sly smile, raising his glass at me.

I walk inside, closing the door behind me.

“Good evening,” I reply, biting back a smile. “Last time I checked, this is supposed to be my office,” I taunt, lifting my brows. “Yours is next door.”

“Hm, didn’t take you for a territorial woman.” He sets his glass on the table and starts pouring another one. He then hands it to me, and I take it, sitting beside him on the couch. 

I take a sip from the amber liquid, letting it burn down my throat and warm my chest.

This is exactly what I needed after a long day of work.

“It depends on what I’m being territorial with,” I note, glancing at him sideways, scanning him up and down. I’m sure he can see the heat in my eyes.

He swallows hard, chugging the rest of the whiskey at once and looking away.

“Don’t do that, or we’ll have to make a debut in your office.” He grins at me, that sexy, cunning smile on the corner of his lips making me wonder why we can’t do exactly that.

“Do what?” I tease, crossing my legs and leaning back on the couch. 

Angelo sneers. “Aren’t you a little tired for this?”

I am. But I could use some sex to relax. However, I’d rather we wait until we get home. For now, I just want to enjoy this moment, giving myself some room to breathe and celebrate another victory.

“Fine. You’re right. You’re not escaping once we get home, though. I miss you. And we barely had any time together these past few days,” I point out, looking at him with sorrowful eyes.

“Yeah… I miss you too. But now that you closed this deal, we have time to celebrate. Until you find something else to focus on, that is,” he jokes. 

He knows me so well by now. He knows that once I set my mind onto something, I don’t let it go until I get it. And I never wait too long until I find a new purpose.

That’s the type of boss I became.

And I’m so glad he supports me, no matter what.

“You made it,” he adds, finding my hand on the couch and squeezing it.

“We made it,” I correct, intertwining our fingers and scooting to the side to get closer to him. “I wouldn’t have gotten where I am today if it weren’t for you. And the rest of the guys, of course. So, thank you for staying with me.” I didn’t intend to cry, but tears swell in my eyes anyway as I stare at the man I love.

“Did you ever doubt I would?” he retorts, heat radiating from his gaze and body.

“Never.” 

Because it is true. No matter the hardships life would throw at us, despite all my insecurities and inexperience, deep down, I always knew I could count on him. 

I turn my body to face him, tears rolling down my face at this point. Angelo widens his eyes at me, shocked to see me cry when we were just now taunting each other.

“I really mean it when I say I couldn’t have done this without you. You’re my family, Angelo, and if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to do everything I did. To fight for myself. For us. For my father’s legacy. For justice. You give me the strength I need to go through all of this, to face the hardest days, to want to keep moving…”

“Baby…” he murmurs, but I shake my head at him–wanting, needing to let it all out. 

It’s probably the most raw confession we’ve ever had, and tonight, I suddenly feel like I haven’t shown enough how grateful I am to have him in my life.

“We have built an empire, with money and power… But this means nothing to me. All I care about is the family we have become. The family we’re going to be one day,” I continue. 

Angelo raises his hand and gently wipes the tears from my cheeks, caressing my skin with his thumb. I tilt my head against his touch, relishing in it.

“I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” His tone is serious and firm, but I can feel the love and devotion it carries. “Meeting you was like being saved from the darkness. Like being saved from a life without love, hope, and dreams. When I lost Luca, life stopped making sense for me. I carried on with my days without worrying if I was going to die or not. The only thing that kept me going was the rage and grief I buried in my heart. The thirst for revenge. It kept me moving forward, but those were not good feelings to hold on to,” he confesses, lowering his gaze to his lap, ashamed. “It wasn’t something I was proud of, but I didn’t know how else to control those feelings inside me. So, I just let them move me. Until I met you. And then everything fell into place. Everything started to make sense again.”

Angelo and I have exchanged countless ‘I love you’s’ in the past year, but never once have we had this pure, intimate conversation. Sometimes it feels like words aren’t needed until they are said. Now that we’re putting all our emotions and feelings for each other on the table, I’m finally realizing how powerful our love actually is.

It saved us both. From a life without hope. From a life of despair. 

Both of us lost our families because of greed. But because of that, we also found one another.

We fought for justice. And we did it together.

It feels good to have someone to share all your burdens and dreams with. I never thought I needed that person until I found him. 

“I love you,” I state firmly, locking my eyes with his. “And I’m really glad you came into my life when you did.”

Angelo smiles softly at me, cupping my face and pulling me slowly toward him. He places a kiss on my lips and pulls away, resting his forehead against mine.

“Thank you for sticking with me. I love and need you so much that it scares me sometimes. And I wanted to take this moment to reinforce my promise to you. I want to stay beside you for the rest of our lives. I can’t imagine living a single day without you. That’s why…”

Angelo releases me and stands from the couch, only to kneel in front of me. He takes my right hand, and with the other, he removes a diamond ring from his pocket.

My eyes widen in shock, and I gasp, covering my mouth with my free hand.

“What…” I can’t find the words to express what I’m feeling right now.

“That’s why I want to ask you… Tatiana Romina, will you be my wife?”

I nod so fast that I almost get whiplash. The tears are falling freely down my face now, blurring my vision, but I don’t mind. I simply let him place the ring on my finger before I toss myself on him, both of us collapsing on the floor, giggling.

“Yes! A thousand times, yes!”