Dating the Don (Savage Crime Lords #1)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

CRISTIANO

Maeve didn’t say it back.

I told her that I loved her, and she didn’t say it back. I didn’t even mean for the words to come out. I got caught up in the moment. That’s all that there is to it. At least, that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself. It certainly doesn’t make the words any less true. I’ve been wholly head over heels for her stubborn ass for most of my life. It’s just saying it out loud that I haven’t done before.

Was it a mistake?

I should be worrying about the bullet wound in my side but I would rather sit here and stew about whether or not she heard me. Maybe the adrenaline got the better of me. What I can’t deny, however, is how she impressed me.

Even now, as we stagger toward the car to take her back to the house and me to medical attention, I’m still impressed by her. Maeve has a hand braced on either side of me, holding me upright as we move through the halls and into the warm sunlight. Funny how much has happened and none of the people out here will ever be the wiser. At least not today.

Tomorrow, perhaps, I will return with Al to fully process the consents of the building. The Doyle family has had their claws in this territory for a long time. It's going to be quite the undertaking to finish switching things into my land. It’s one of the largest acquisitions that I’ve seen for our family. After it’s done, there will be no more questioning if I’m ready to have my father’s position or not. I will have finished proving myself to my men beyond a shadow of a doubt. It’s a surreal feeling.

I bite back a hiss of pain as I slide into the back of the car. Maeve follows closely after. I lift my arm to keep her close to me, and she snuggles into my side. I see her being careful not to touch the still bleeding wound on my side. We’ve patched it up the best that we can. That’s all that can be done at the moment, and we both know it. I don’t mind it. It’s further proof of Maeve’s strength. That, and it also will be a permanent scar that will remind me not to underestimate her. She has also earned her spot at my side.

“It’s weird, but it almost feels like all of my goals are closer now,” Maeve sighs as Al slides into the driver’s seat and the car rumbles to life.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that… I dunno, I guess that since I’ve been wanting answers about mom’s death for all of these years… to finally know that she’s been avenged even if I don’t know the reason behind it all, it’s like those storm clouds are no longer over my head,” Maeve shrugs one shoulder. “Maybe it’s stupid, but I think that I was keeping myself from moving onto that next phase of my life until I did this, and now it’s like everything is finally possible.”

Something sours in my stomach.

I swallow back those emotions. I guess she’s got a point. Our deal is officially concluded. As soon as we return to the house, she will be well within her rights to call this whole wedding off. She will not be a threat to my men any longer now that she’s proven herself. She will forever have my protection, of course. Who am I to stop her from chasing after her dreams?

“Of course. I hope that it goes without saying that I will do everything within my power to ensure that you are able to achieve anything that you wish,” I say as I squeeze her arm supportively.

Maeve nods. Her index finger trails over the blood splatters on my shirt as if tracing the outlines of some abstract painting. “I've always felt really fortunate to share my mother's dream. I knewthat having me when she did and the decisions she had to make would prevent her from pursuing her dream career. The fact that she wasn't the kind of mother who would try to put that kind of pressure on me was another huge blessing. She always supported me. I have a strong feeling shewould be proudif I attendfashion school and realizeour shared ambition.”

I listen intently. Of course, she should. For as long as I’ve known her, she and Ada have been planning out versions of that story. Even when they were in elementary school, Maeve would alter Ada’s clothes into new looks. Ada would force all of father’s men to gather around and watch them while they put on lengthy fashion shows. They had been planning that path for themselves for as long as I can remember.

It’s only right that she does it now.

Even if that means that she must leave me behind.

My duty and life is here. I can’t go with her to Paris or whatever fancy school she wants to go to. Ada could, of course, accompany her. I could even send one of my best men with them to make sure that no matter where they go, they are completely and utterly safe. That would be the best option. Maeve’s never truly been comfortable accepting my money, so I can always just create a scholarship and gift it to her. Then she won’t have to use any of her savings while she’s away.

It will be simple enough.

At the end of the day, I just want her to be happy. No matter what that looks like.

“There’s just one problem that I keep coming back to. No matter how many different ways I look at it, it just keeps becoming an issue,” Maeve sighs. She lifts her chin to look at me, and I’m transfixed.

“Whatever it is, I can fix it,” I answer easily.

“I don’t think you can. You see, the problem, Cristiano, is that I love you too,” Maeve smiles softly. It’s such an unguarded, open expression that it nearly takes my breath away. My heart lurches in my chest as if fearing that somehow I didn’t actually hear her properly. Am I dreaming?

No, she’s here. Warm and solid in my arms.

“Blech,” Al says from the front seat, breaking the tension between us. I laugh and push the button to raise the partition between us.

I hook a finger under her chin and lift her face to meet mine. It’s just about the only movement I’m currently capable of without feeling pain. Sensing this, Maeve sits upright so that I can kiss her deeply, savoring the taste of her on my tongue. She’s always been sweet but this? Knowing that she’s fully and totally mine? It’s intoxicating.

She pulls away for only a moment as the car starts to slow again.

“But don’t think that this will get you out of properly apologizing to me,” she says.

I smirk. “Oh, once I’m all stitched up, I will happily dedicate as much time to apologizing to you as you desire. I can even think of a few more creative ways to earn your forgiveness, if you want.”

“Mmm, I think I remember a promise about you being on your knees?” Maeve teases as her finger trails down the center of my chest.

“I can do that.”

“I’m still here, you know…” Al protests from the driver’s seat, but I choose to ignore him.

“You know what else you can do while you’re down there?” She asks before kissing me softly again. If she doesn’t stop teasing me, things back here are going to get a hell of a lot messier very quickly.

“What’s that?” Though, I have a good idea of a few things that she might like. Things I’m more than happy to do.

“Propose to me properly… for real this time.”

That’s not one of the things that I would have guessed.

“Really?” I ask, not sure if I heard her correctly.

She nods. “That’s right.”

I think my heart might be too full. I never thought that she would actually want to marry me. In all of the years that I’ve known her, I can’t think of any other woman who has even been able to hold a candle to her. For me, it’s always only been Maeve. If she’s choosing to give me the chance to prove that to her? I will spend the rest of my life happily making sure that she knows just how deeply I love her. All of her. In every way that a man can love a woman.

“Then when you’re done, you can do all of those other things that you were thinking of,” Maeve winks cheekily at me. “When you’re all patched up, that is.”

She tenderly probes at the sore spot on my side where she shot me to further prove her point. I laugh and swat her hand away. “It’s going to take more than a little flesh wound to keep me down, you know. But don’t go getting any ideas.”

She shrugs and grins. “Well, I guess you’ve learned not to underestimate me, at the very least.”

I kiss her again. “And when you’re my wife, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for me to prove that to you, too.”

“Mm, I like the sound of that.” She reaches up to cup my face and kiss me again. “Say it again.”

“My wife?” I laugh softly. “Forever. You’ll be my wife, Maeve. I love you.”

It’s so liberating to finally say it out loud.

“I love you, too, Cristiano.”