Page 276 of Roberto

“Let me get this straight: you wantme… who betrayed you to your worst enemies…”

“You made up for it,” I said with a smile.

“To marryyou… who nearly blew me up.”

“But Ididn’t,”I pointed out comically.

“…why?!”

“Well, I would have had to blow myself up, too.”

She pushed against my shoulder in playful indignation. “You know what I mean!”

I became serious as I stared deep into her eyes.

“I love you. I didn’t know what that truly meant until I met you.You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved… and the only woman I everwantto love, from now until I die.”

Tears welled up in Mei-ling’s eyes.

“I just need to know one thing,” I said quietly. “My family is part of theCosa Nostra. I can’t abandon them… which meansI’mpart of theCosa Nostra,at least for the foreseeable future.

“I know you had your issues with your father and then with Lau – but I promise you, my family is different.I’mdifferent. But… I’ll still be involved in a life you never wanted. Is that something you can live with?”

She smiled sadly. “With anyone else… no. With you… I’m willing to try.”

“Then marry me. I don’t have a ring for you yet… but marry me.”

She opened her mouth to answer –

And then gave me an impish smile.

“No.”

I suppressed a grin of my own. “Marry me.”

“No.”

I pulled her forcefully to me and looked deep into her eyes from just a few inches away.“Marryme.”

She broke into the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

“…yes.”

We both laughed and kissed passionately…

As our plane soared home to Italy.