Chapter 27

Isabella

Despite what had just happened, Em seemed calm as we headed south from Little Italy. He reached over and splayed his long fingers over my thigh. “I’m sorry if that scared you.”

“I think I was too unsure of what was happening to be scared.” I looked down at the white bag from the bakery. “The cannoli though…they’re smashed.”

Em smiled. “They’ll still taste great.”

“Why would some young kid try to rob you?”

“According to him, it wasn’t his idea. Someone offered him a hundred dollars.”

“It seems like the price should have been higher.”

He scoffed. “Much higher. That means one of two things. One, it was some kind of initiation, and they had no idea who I am, or two, if they offered more, the kid would figure I was someone important and push for even more.”

I shook my head and stared out the wide windshield. The sky had already begun its transformation. Colors changed. Blues faded into red and orange. The vibrant hues radiated under the few clouds such as flames searing their underside.

My thoughts went back to earlier. Em said he’d asked el Patrόn for my hand. Does that mean we’re engaged, or do we have to wait for Dario’s approval?

Em found a parking space not far from the large sign reading Imperial Beach. Hand in hand, we hurried toward the pier. I stopped near the sandy beach as waves crashed against the tall pilings holding the wooden pier. “Is that safe?”

He squeezed my hand. “I’m not sure how long it’s been here. But I know it’s popular for walking, fishing, and sunsets.” His lips curled in a smile. “Come on. The view is stunning.”

Our shoes clipped over the wood planks. Even though he’d told me the length, the pier was much longer than I imagined. As the sun continued to lower, the water began to glow. Tall lampposts on the right of the pier were illuminated, creating small circles of light. Up ahead I saw the silhouette of a building. “What’s up there?”

“That’s the Tin Fish. It’s a little restaurant. They have picnic tables and live music. During the day, this place is filled with fishermen.”

The walkway swayed with the incoming waves. And the evening air felt suddenly chillier.

Em let go of my hand to wrap his arm behind my back and around my waist.

I nestled against his side. His warmth shielded me from the cool breeze.

We reached the end of the pier as the sun kissed the horizon. The people present watched in awe at Mother Nature’s beautiful exhibition. Even the music we’d heard as we approached stopped, everyone paying reverence to the spectacular display. As the orange ball disappeared, the horizon glowed with crimson hues.

Em leaned down. As I turned to him, his lips met mine.

I wrapped my arms around his torso as his arms encircled me.

This was more than I dared to hope for—ever.

Around us, the music resumed, and the people began to talk amongst themselves.

“That was spectacular,” I said.

“It was nice,” he replied, staring down at me. “I prefer this view.”

I sucked in a breath. “I’m afraid I’ll wake up tomorrow and this will all have been a dream.”

He shook his head.

“What time is it?”

Em looked at his watch. “We still have over an hour to safely get you back to el Patrȯn.” He pointed to the north. “From here you can see San Diego.”

“It looks so pretty from here.”

“I always want you to see it that way. Don’t let the darkness I see overshadow the light you see.” He turned us to the left. “See those lights down there?”

I nodded.

“Plaza Monumental de Tijuana. Or some people call it the Bullring by the Sea.”

“What is that?”

“It’s a stadium in Tijuana.”

“In Mexico?” My neck stiffened. “How far are we from the border?”

“Five miles.”

Suddenly, the air felt cooler as I looked around at the crowd. “How can we be that close and it be calm?”

“It just is. Most realities are different than the way we’re told to believe.”

That was the truth. I was still reeling from the difference in what I thought it would be like with the cartel to the way it actually was.

Em tilted his chin toward the Tin Fish. “Ice cream?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I may never eat again.”

“Then how about a walk on the beach?”

“I’d like that.”

I took off my shoes and wiggled my toes in the soft white sand. Carrying my shoes in one hand, my other hand was securely in Em’s grasp. The sound of the surf and the salt-filled air created a peaceful setting. We were a few minutes into our stroll when I asked, “What does this mean for tonight or tomorrow?”

“This?”

“You and I. Honestly, I’m afraid if we tell others that my mother or father will find out and send one of their guards to take me home.”

Em stopped walking and turned to me. “That won’t happen.”

“You don’t know them. I was talking to my mother earlier today, and she said that I’ve changed. She said she was going to talk to Papà and wanted me to go back to Kansas City right away.”

By the light of the moon, I saw Em’s jaw clench. He brought his thumb to my cheek, stroking my face. “I’d marry you tonight. That wouldn’t be good for you, me, or the alliance. We need to give Jano and Dario a chance to make this work.”

“What if they don’t?”

“Do you want to marry me?”

I sighed with a grin. “It scares me. I mean, I woke up this morning not in a relationship and this evening I might be engaged.”

He lifted my hand. “There’s no ring. And I’m not certain you said yes.”

“It’s so fast.”

To my shock, Em dropped to one knee on the sandy beach. Holding my hand, he looked up at me, the moonlight shining in his dark brown orbs. “Isabella Luciano, this is an official proposal. You know how I feel about you. If marrying me is something you want, I’ll fight for it to happen. If it’s not, please tell me now because I’m damn sure I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“In love?”

He nodded. “That day in your office when I first touched you, your arms, and held your freezing cold hands? I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life taking care of you, watching you blossom, touching you, and encouraging you to push your own boundaries. Dario may have sent you out here to fail. If that’s the case, he underestimated you. I think nothing is beyond your ability.”

Tears filled my eyes as I fell to my knees. “You love me?”

“I do.”

As I palmed his cheeks, I dove deep within myself.

Do I love Emiliano?

I loved the way he made me feel. I loved his encouragement and belief in me. I loved the way he kissed and touched me. I wasn’t sure if I loved him, but I believed I could. Every moment with him took me closer to that conclusion. I nodded. “I want to marry you.”

His lips crashed with mine. Forceful and tender. Possessive and giving. My lips parted as his tongue sought entrance. Moans and whimpers escaped my throat as his tongue slid over mine, dancing to a melody that was only ours. He wove his fingers into my long hair, tugging my head backward and sending shock waves to my core.

When we finally pulled apart, my nipples were hard and for the first time, I understood what was meant in books. Because I was certain my panties were damp.

“I think you’re right,” he said as I still panted for air.

“About?”

“I’m going to fucking hate not touching you and kissing you, but we should keep this between us right now. Have faith in Jano and Dario.” He grinned. “That doesn’t mean we can’t steal a kiss here and there.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll try to have faith.”

Em stood and taking my hand, helped me stand.

My slacks were covered with sand. As I tried to brush it away, I said, “How will I explain this to Mia?”

“You were on a tour, remember. I took you to Imperial Beach.”

“Yeah, a tour. I remember now.” I looked up at him. “For the record, it’s been the best tour of my life.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist. “I don’t want to do it, but it’s time to get you back before we break your curfew.”

“Back to prison.”

“No, back to being protected.”

“I’m free for another tour sometime.”

We chatted about places to go. When Em mentioned the zoo, I remembered that I’d heard good things about the San Diego Zoo. I’d forgotten about the incident in the parking garage until we were back in the car.

“Are you going to tell el Patrȯn about what happened earlier with that kid?”

“I will. I have the kid’s gun and the name of the man who hired him. More than likely the gun is stolen, but we can run the serial number. It might tell us something.”

“I thought only the police could do that.”

Em scoffed. “I could do it by the time I was your brother’s age. Wouldn’t be surprised if he can do it too.”

“Tony and Noemi,” I said with a tug in my chest. “I don’t want to leave them.”

His fingers splayed on my thigh. “When we marry, you can always go visit or they can visit us. We need to do our part, the cartel and famiglia, to eradicate our greatest threats, and then you’ll be safe to travel.”

“You wouldn’t mind if they came out here?” I thought about our walk. “They’d love to see the ocean.”

“Isabella, I’d never try to separate you from your family.”

I laid my hand over his and stared at the highway as we headed north back to Mia’s home.