Epilogue

Three months later

Camila

I hurried from the bed to the window. “It’s snowing.”

“It does that in the winter, beautiful.”

A blanket of white coated the world beyond our window as large flakes filtered down from the clouds above. “It makes me think of skiing.”

Dante pulled back the blankets and patted the mattress. “It makes me think of cold. Come back to bed and let me warm you.”

Doing as he said, I walked back to the bed and crawled under the blankets. With a push of a button on the remote, Dante brought the fireplace to life.

I curled against his side, my head on my favorite pillow, that of his rock-hard shoulder. “I’ve enjoyed the time off, but I’m ready to get back to my classes at Missouri State-Kansas City after the first of the year.”

“You’ll be the sophomore with the big guy following her everywhere she goes.”

“I like Giovanni. He doesn’t hover.”

Dante kissed my hair. “I trust him, not just with protecting you, but also respecting you.”

I nodded. “My parents will be here later today for the holiday.”

Em, Rei, Aléjandro, and Mia were already in Kansas City. It was going to be an old-fashioned holiday, the kind where the cartel and Mafia break bread.

At the ding of a text message, Dante rolled and lifted his phone. “Oh, your present is about to arrive.”

“My present? We said no gifts.”

His sexy smile grew. “What can I say? I’m a criminal by nature. Sometimes I’m not one hundred percent forthcoming.”

“You’d lie to me?” I asked, aghast.

“Only to surprise you.”

Excitement electrified my circulation. “What are you going to surprise me with?”

He rolled from the bed, standing in all his Greek-god glory. Michelangelo’s David had nothing on Dante Luciano. “Since your sister is delivering it in a few minutes, I suggest we put on some clothes.”

“Cat’s bringing my present.”

Dante laughed as he stepped into his boxer briefs. “That’s more accurate than you know.”

I furrowed my forehead. “I don’t understand.”

He lifted my nightgown from the floor. “You might want this.”

Getting out of bed, I went to him and took the satin gown. Pushing myself up to my tiptoes, I brushed his lips with mine. “I don’t know why I waste money on nightgowns; somehow, they always seem to get lost during the night.”

“You have them to answer the door in the morning.” Excitement shone in his eyes. “Come on, hurry.”

I quickly hurried to the bathroom, took care of business, splashed water on my face and ran my toothbrush over my teeth. Once I was dressed in panties, nightgown, and robe, I combed my long hair, securing it behind my head in a low ponytail.

As I exited our bedroom, I heard voices coming from our kitchen. When I turned the corner to find not only Cat, but also Dario holding Ariadna Gia, and Jasmine—also visiting for the holiday—I was glad I’d taken the time to add panties and a robe. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” came from all around.

Dante was standing shirtless with his legs covered by blue jeans. He grinned like a cat who swallowed a canary.

My fists went to my hips. “Are you all in on this surprise?”

“Yes,” Dante, Cat, and Jasmine answered as Dario nodded.

Ariadna Gia smiled as if she too was in on the surprise.

“Well, I’d offer you coffee, but first I want to know what you’re all so happy about.”

Dante leaned down. He stood back up, squaring his shoulders at the sound of the elevator. I watched his expressions change and the way his jaw set. Dario handed his daughter to Cat, seconds before we all sighed with relief.

Em and Rei stepped off, looking like killers who had just woken up.

“Where’s the coffee?” my brother asked.

“You have to wait for my surprise,” I replied.

Rei and Em both stopped when their gaze landed on the red-headed beauty at Cat’s side.

“You two know Jasmine?” Dante said.

“They do. I’m waiting here,” I prompted.

Dante’s shit-eating grin was back as he leaned down and lifted a box to the counter. The box had a handle and large holes.

My mind was scrambling with what could be inside when I heard the mew.

Tears filled my eyes. “You got me a kitten?” I rushed to the box, opening it to the sweetest green stare and tiny body covered with multicolored fluffy fur. The purring began as soon as I lifted the tiny kitten to my chest. My gaze met Dante’s. “How did you know? We never talked about pets.”

He rubbed the kitten’s head and kissed my cheek. “One of our soldiers took in a pregnant stray—more accurately, his wife did. The timing was too perfect.”

Hugging the kitten, my emotions overtook me. I smiled up at my husband with fresh tears in my eyes. “I’ve always wanted a cat.” I spun toward my brother and sister. “Remember Bell?”

Cat nodded with a grin.

“Catalina,” Dante said, “told me that story when you were missing.”

“Oh.” My eyes opened wide. “My passcode.”

Dante nodded. “I promised you to make your dreams come true. I have about fifty years to work on more.”

“What are you going to name her?” Jasmine asked, coming closer to the kitten.

Ignoring the sideway glances Dario was shooting toward Em and Rei, I looked over to Dante. “Do you have an idea?”

“That’s up to you, beautiful.”

I held the kitten up, staring into her round eyes. “What’s your name, little one?”

“She’s a girl,” Cat said. “Just thought you should know that.”

My wedding ring caught my eye. The large ruby on the gold band now had an accompanying diamond encrusted band. “Her name is Diamond because she shines.”

Dante leaned down. “Welcome to the famiglia, Diamond.” He extended his hands, and I laid Diamond in his grasp. “Don’t pee on me.”

I wrapped my arms around my husband’s torso and squeezed. “I love you.”

“I love you back.”

There was no doubt, looking from Dario, Cat, Ariadna Gia, and Jasmine, to Dante, Em, Rei, Diamond, and me that this alliance was strong. We’d been through rough patches. We all knew that despite the love and unions within our individual couples, we’d need to unite as one to take on the future.

Thank you for reading BOUND BY A PROMISE. If you haven't read NOW AND FOREVER, Dario and Catalina's story, or TILL DEATH DO US PART, Alejandro and Mia's story, I hope you will. 

The next book in the Brutal Vows series is QUEENS AND MONSTERS, Rei and Jasmine's story.