I start to answer, then stop. It’s such a simple question and yet such a profound one. What difference does it make how things began? We’ve come so far since then, since a twisted, sinful extortion deal in the middle of a nightclub.
“Love is never simple,” he counsels. “Even with your mother, it has never been simple. But it doesn’t need to be made any more complicated, either.”
He stands, my mother alongside him. They each kiss me on the forehead and then they leave without another word. I watch them go, my mind reeling.
Moments later, the door swings open once more. I see a familiar bulk enter.
“Giuseppe,” I say with a smile.
“Boss,” he intones. “Or should I say, don.”
I smile savagely. “It seems like he finally wants to retire, then. With Levi gone, you’re my second now, Giuseppe. The first thing I want you to do is get rid of all the Kong. We’re getting out of the drugs game.” I hold up a hand when his jaw drops. “Don’t worry; we’re not going to become choirboys. But it’s too risky. Look at the mess it got us in. Stolen goods, protection, gambling—yes, of course. But not drugs. We will not hurt anyone else with that poison.”
Giuseppe nods solemnly. Then, he steps aside to reveal the person standing behind him:
Dani.
She’s got a big cast on her leg and she’s leaning on crutches. But the fire in her eyes is as bright as ever.
“Dani,” I whisper, my voice breaking in love and desire. “Come here.”
“I’ll leave you two be,” Giuseppe says. He leaves quietly.
When he’s gone, Dani cocks a sassy smile at me as she slides into the seat next to my bed, propping her crutches against the wall. “Did your dad tell you how I saved your life, how I heroically dragged you out to the ambulance and got you to the hospital?”
I grin. “Yes, Dani, he told me. Now I want to tell you something.”
“Me first!” She leans forward, her lips finding mine. We kiss passionately and then, when she breaks it off, she says, “I love you.”
But I say it at the same time, so we talk over each other.
“I’m done with drugs, Dani,” I say. “I can’t promise to get a nine-to-five and act good as gold all the time, but I can promise that I’ll always protect you, our baby, and this city. I just hope that’s enough.”
I have to fight hard to hold back tears, but Dani just lets hers fall. She kisses me over and over, her soft, warm lips grazing against the thick stubble on my cheeks. Then she leans back, moving her hands over my new beard. “I’m not sure how I feel about this.”
“Take your time deciding about it,” I laugh. “We’ve got all the time in the world together.” Then I pull her close and kiss her once more. She tastes like life. She tastes like forgiveness. She tastes real.
And that is all I need.
Epilogue
Dani
One Year Later
I’m sitting in the bridal prep room, in front of a huge gold-framed mirror, as the makeup artists and hair stylists buzz around me like I’m an actress about to go on set. I’m already in my wedding dress. It’s the same one my mother wore at her wedding. I’ve spent hours and hours smoothing my hands down the folds, closing my eyes and picturing her and my father at the altar. It feels good. It feels right.
Zora skips up and down behind me, all full of energy in her blood-red maid-of-honor dress. She picked it out herself, of course, but like everything she does, it just works for her.
Quinny leans against the wall in her suit and blood-red bow tie, running a hand through her short cropped hair. She’s the maid of honor, too. “Anybody would think you were the one getting married,” Quinny jokes, nodding at Zora.
Zora throws her hands in the air. “It’s called being supportive,” she says.
“Manic, more like,” Quinny smiles. “You’re giving me a headache.”
“Ladies, ladies,” I say, laughing along with them. “I’m not going to have to set up a boxing ring at the reception, am I?”
“Quinny knows I’d KO her in the first round!” Zora exclaims.
“Give me the name of one boxer,” Quinny drawls. “Just one.”
I roll my eyes in the mirror at the stylist, as if to say, Can you believe what I have to put up with? But it’s all in good fun. Really, this has been the best year of my life. Wyatt has been sober for, officially, three hundred and seventy-two days now, I’ve given birth to a beautiful baby boy, I’m on my way to becoming an E.R. doctor, and Angelo has started opening up drug rehab centers all throughout the city.
Who knew life could be so good?
A few minutes later, the stylists are finally done, and they leave us. Zora puts her hand over her mouth when I stand up, fighting back sobs. “You just look so beautiful,” she whispers. “Jesus, I could just tear your eyes out, I’m so jealous. Selfie? Please, let me take a selfie!”
Quinny rolls her eyes, since she hates selfies, but since it’s my wedding day, she’s got no choice. The three of us huddle close together and Zora takes the photo.
“I guess we better get out there, right?” she says. “Take our places?”
I nod. “I think that’s the idea,” I smile. “I’ll see you out there.”
When I’m left alone, I wander around, too excited to sit down. I’ve got these tingling butterflies all throughout my body.
I’m getting married today.
No matter how many times I think that, it doesn’t seem real. It’s too perfect. Because I’m not just getting married. I’m getting married to the love of my life.
Then Angelo knocks on the door. I can tell it’s him right away. That’s what happens when you share a home with somebody for over a year. You learn everything about them, even the unique sound of their knocking.
“Playboy, you better not be trying to ruin the surprise,” I say, moving over to the door.
He chuckles. “You always know it’s me,” he says. “No, I’m just here to tell you now this has all been a big prank. We’re going to have the wedding, of course, but it’s just for show. I need a fake wife, you see …”
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” I sass. “You’re so funny.”
There’s a pause. I feel like he’s nervous, too, not that I should be able to tell that through the door.
“Is Gio okay?” I ask.
“Giovanni is fine,” Angelo says. I know he’s smiling, like he always does when I call our son Gio and he goes for the more official Giovanni. “He’s sleeping soundly in Madolina’s arms. I just wanted to give you this.”
“What?”
“Wait a second.”
I hear some rustling, and then, looking down, I see that he’s sliding a letter under the door. I pick up the envelope and open it, warning myself not to cry because it will ruin my makeup.
I start to read:
My dearest Dani,
I love you more than I’ve ever loved anybody.
I’m writing this because you know what I’m like. Saying things like this aloud—that is hard for me. But it’s the truth. I love you more than I could ever explain and I can’t wait to meet our baby. I can’t wait to grow old with you. I can’t wait for any of the things that lie in our future.