Alicia was a Russo. She had fallen in love with Valentino De Luca, and she never got the chance to see her baby born or to marry the man she loved. She had died long before her time. Killed by the hands of her family.
Valentino had lived the remainder of his life to torture the men responsible for taking his love away.
This cycle had to end.
She was never a malicious person. Her hatred of her father was very fucking real.
She wasn’t going to allow him or his greedy life to impose on her any longer. The Russo and De Luca feud would end here.
All it took was one person to finally put an end to it.
She pulled her hands away from De Luca’s, and he fought her, but she climbed off the bed. Then she shoved him against it and turned to straddle him as he sat on the floor. She cupped his face, tilting his head back to look him in the eye. His gaze was so cold it took her breath away.
“I love you, Damon De Luca. We’re going to get married. So I’m going to need that ring back, and we’re going to raise beautiful children. This rift between the Russos and De Lucas ends today. You and me, we will finish this. This feud will end in love. Do you understand me?”
He grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her close and drawing her lips down to his. She wrapped her arms around him. With her stomach in the way, it was hard to get as close to him as she wanted, but she didn’t care.
His touch, his love, that was all she needed. She didn’t need anything else.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before he pulled away, but when he did, he already had the engagement ring out, and he slid it on her finger.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I don’t want the Russo ring. None of our children do, but I think you should give it to Ricky.”
Damon nodded.
“You’re not going to argue?” She frowned. “Did you kill him?”
“No. Ricky is not dead. It turns out he has been one hell of a guard around this place,” Damon said. He stroked her hair back behind her ear. “You’re so beautiful. You know that?”
She cupped his face and kissed him. “I love you.”
“And I love you. Don’t leave me.”
“Don’t ever give me a reason to leave.”
“I won’t.”
He held her tightly, and Milah finally felt like she belonged. Damon hadn’t just put on a show, she knew that. Some people would think she was a fool, and she could imagine her father and grandfather spinning in their graves because she hadn’t dealt a killing blow to him.
She loved him. There was no need to destroy him. The thirst for vengeance had caused enough death, and she was going to end it once and for all.
“Valentino really loved her?” Damon asked, pulling away.
Milah nodded. “It’s all in the diary. I found it in the top floor’s attic.”
“I’ve never been up there. Valentino made the room out of bounds for a long time. My mother had it redecorated not long after he passed. She said the room had once been a shrine to something.”
“It must have been Alicia,” Milah said.
He nodded.
“Read the diary, Damon. For me.”
“I will do anything for you, Milah. All you ever have to do is ask.”