Dominic Aritello

Chapter 23

Sage
Present

I loved him. I loved him so much and after all of this there was no doubt about it. We had been through a lot and that was okay. Our story was perfectly imperfect.

He sat up keeping me close and I slowly got off of him as we both stood up. He took my hand and slipped the ring on carefully before touching my face.

"I love you." He whispered, but he didn't give me a chance to say it back before his lips were on mine and his hands were all over me. My muscles felt weak and my heart was beating so fast. I can't even tell you how many times I dreamt of this but we had been off and on so many times that I never thought it would happen.

I didn't think that he could genuinely love someone like me. Someone so....corrupt and toxic. Someone who has grown up with lies on her tongue and manipulation integrated into my brain after so many years of being taught how to outsmart men by my father.

He had spent so many years teaching me how to lie and feign innocence. And I used it against the people I love the most.....

Even so, he loves me. His hand slipped through the high slit of my dress and reached around to my ass gripping it before he gave it a little smack.

"Ow" I gasped feeling the sting and he grinned, his smile wide and playful. I stared at him. I can't remember the last time I've seen him like this, so happy and carefree. His smile reached his eyes and the sight was so mesmerizing.

"What?" He asked and I shook my head.

"I just...you haven't been this happy in a while." I admitted and he seemed to realize this as well.

"I guess so." His hand went up into my hair tugging at the clips and letting my curls loosely fall down my back.

"Do you regret living with us?" I asked him. I mean he had less of a childhood than any of us and moving in with us only made him a kid with adult responsibilities. He could've chosen freedom.

"Yes and no." He whispered, still studying my face like he couldn't get enough of it.

"Why?"

"No, because although I wanted to hate you since my father showed me a picture of you, once I met you that all changed. I wanted to protect you and be your friend. I wanted to hold you and hide you from the bad things in the world. And then I fell in love with you and I had no idea what to do with those feelings. I didn't recognize it and tried to ignore it." He took my waist in his hands and turned me so he was able to press me into the fancy wooden railing.

"Yes because I could've had anything and I chose to go back into this life. This life is all I know. Normal isn't really my thing, but neither is this. I've never really had the chance to learn what I like, or what I'm capable of other than taking a life and running a mafia. It makes me wonder how I would've turned out if I stayed on my own or had a different family." He seemed thoughtful with his words.