Chapter Seventy Four

Chapter Seventy Four
Camilla POV

I wake to find the room dark and the warmth of a body pressed against me from behind. I can tell that it's Nicholas, his scent meeting my nose. "Nick?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, I just wanted to hold you. You were so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you, so I just climbed right in here behind you," he said with a chuckle. He reaches to remove his arm from across my waist, and I grab it and hold it there.

"It's okay. You don't have to move; besides, I realized today that this is your room and I've taken it over since we got here. Tell me what happened," I ask.

"It is my room, but it seemed like it would be the most comfortable for you since it had the ensuite bathroom and a very nice balcony. I don't mind sharing it with you," he said it in a way that made me think he meant that to mean more than just right now.

"Thank you," I whispered. "Now tell me. Please."

Nicholas sighed and seemed to pull me closer. "Tanya, the nurse, she's been giving Cain information in exchange for something."

"What? Money?" I said with angst.

"No. Her sister's life. The woman he's been torturing and having forced sex with. It turns out that it's her sister."

I quickly turn myself around so I'm now facing Nicholas. "Are you serious?" I ask. Then as if delayed, my sudden movement causes my vision to spin for a moment, and I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"Hey", he says softly, then he brushes some hair away from my forehead and places a soft kiss there. "Go slow, you know the doctor said it's going to take some time for you to be able to move like you did before the incident."

"I know," I say on an exhale. I open my eyes again. "Now what? What happens to Tanya, to her sister?"

"I'm going to meet with Thomas Cain. We're going to take him down, only he has no idea that we know he's coming. He thinks he's taking us by surprise but it's the other way around."

"What? Here?" I can feel panic in my own voice.

"No, Camilla, not here. I wouldn't ever intentionally draw someone dangerous here. This is my family home, for one, but also you are here. I won't put you in danger," he says.

"Okay, then what's your plan?" I ask.

"I can't tell you much," he shakes his head no. "It's dangerous for you to know too much, especially in your current state. If you were 100% healthy, then I'd consider it, but I need you safe and able to heal without worry."

"Nicholas, he's coming because of me. You're in danger because of me; your whole family is. I want to help if I can," I tell him. I have no idea how I can help in my current state, as he pointed out, but I want him to know that I'm willing to try.

"You can help by staying safe and far away from him," Nicholas replies. "I'm luring him elsewhere. I'm leaving first thing in the morning. I don't know when I will be back. I need you to continue focusing on your healing and when it's over, when Thomas is dead, I will come back for you."

"Come back for me?" I ask. "You mean you will come back for your family Nick."

"For you Camilla, if you will have me," he says softly. I watch as he swallows and stares into my eyes, searching. "I want to marry you, if you will have me as your husband, if you want me, that is. If you say no, I understand. It's not like we've even had a chance to date —Lord knows I owe you a hundred dinners, flowers, and romance. Whatever it is you want from a man, I owe you that." He seems nervous and very unrehearsed. It touches a place in my heart, and I reach out my hand and caress his cheek.

"Nicholas Carmine, you're asking me to marry you?" He leans closer and brushes his lips softly on mine, and then pulls back.

"Yes, I believe I am."

"Why?" I can feel my brow furrowing; it's like every facial expression comes with its own form of odd feeling in my head now.

"For many reasons, for starters, you're smart, passionate, beautiful, and everything I never knew I wanted," he says with a smirk. He means I'm headstrong and difficult, I'm sure of it, but I smile anyway.

"Is this about the power? The money? The contract? I thought you didn't want to be the highest-ranked mafia boss," I remind him.

"I don't. Not really. But if it means I get to spend my life with you, then I suppose it's my price to pay," he smiles softly.

"Okay," I say.

"Okay?" he asks. "What does that mean?"

"Let me think about it," I tell him. Then I lean forward and kiss him. We lie like this in the bed, no more words are spoken, just soft, stolen kisses and caresses. Before I knew it, I was back to sleep with my head resting on his chest. It feels perfect.