Amo crossed the room before I got the chance to answer and put his hand on my back to steady me. “I can take over.”
A look passed between them and Nevio stepped back with a strange smile. “Take good care of her. You saw what I did on stage.” He gave me a wink and disappeared. Those words, though part threat, had been his way of a peace offering. The best Christmas present ever.
Amo cupped my cheeks and lowered his lips to mine. The kiss was gentle and careful. I still felt a little frail so I was glad for his consideration. “How are you feeling?”
“A little better every day. I can’t wait to be rid of the cast so I can start mobilizing my knee.”
“You will dance again.”
I nodded, because I believed it too.
Amo cleared his throat. “I know today isn’t the best time and this isn’t a good place but I don’t want to wait anymore.”
My brows puckered then darted up when Amo got down on one knee. He pulled out a ring from his pocket and held it up between us. My lips formed an O as I stared at the beautiful piece of jewelry. It was a delicate rose gold ring with an amethyst center stone in a color that was a beautiful pinkish lilac tone. It was surrounded by smaller white diamonds.
“When I saw it in the shop window, the color of the stone reminded me of the tutu you wore when I first saw you dance in your studio.”
He shifted the ring so it caught the light and became a bit lighter in color—indeed almost my tutu.
My smile widened but my heart still felt as if it might jump out of my chest.
Amo cleared his throat and locked gazes with me. “Greta, I don’t want to spend a single day without you. I want you by my side. I’ve always admired my parents’ bond and their unwavering love, and I know our marriage will be like that. Will you marry me?”
It was the first time these words left my lips and it felt as if it marked a new beginning, wiping out the many wrong turns I’d taken in the past. I had no doubt Greta was the path I was meant to follow.
She covered her mouth with her fingers and swallowed audibly, before she finally nodded. “Yes. Yes!”
I pushed the ring on her finger, relieved when it fit perfectly. I didn’t even have it altered. I’d stumbled upon it by chance like I’d stumbled upon the gorgeous ballerina.
I pushed to my feet and wrapped my arms around Greta’s waist, lifting her off the ground with as much care as I could. Her arms snaked around my neck and we kissed.
After a while we pulled apart. “I thought maybe we can marry this May. By that time, you should be healed enough to walk down the aisle without trouble. Of course I wouldn’t mind carrying you either but I guess that’s not how you imagined your wedding day.”
Greta gave me a sheepish smile. “I never imagined my wedding.”
My eyebrows rose. “That’s a blow to my confidence.”
She laughed. “I never allowed myself to dream about it because it seemed out of reach.”
“It isn’t anymore. We can marry. Our fathers agreed on peace. The Famiglia stands behind the decision and the Camorra probably won’t doubt your father’s decision either.”
Greta narrowed her eyes in thought. “Did you have to kill many to make this happen?”
“A few had to die, but most of the Traditionalists allowed us to persuade them with certain concessions.”
“Concessions?”
I shrugged. “They cling to their traditions, hence the name. Dad agreed to make the bloody sheets obligatory once more and to put a stronger focus on arranged marriages again. The sanctity of marriage was a big point.”
“So we’ll have to present sheets after our wedding night.”
I grimaced. “It’s expected, yes. Maybe we could figure out a way around it—”
Greta gave a resolute shake of her head. “No. I don’t want an exemption. I want to show your men that I’m willing to respect their rules.” She bit her lip. “But that means you’ll have to wait before we can have sex.”
“I would have waited anyway. I want to do this right. A few more months won’t kill me.”
Greta tilted her head up and I bent down to kiss her. “Did you talk to my parents yet?”