"Alec bought condoms for us on Christmas day," I said aloud for others to hear.
"You should be happy I bought something, it's like watching you both act porn while I masturbate."
I scoffed and dropped it beside us. We were in the garden where Irene had been decorating the venue for Christmas night. Presents surrounded us and for a moment, it didn't feel like I was in a mafia house, we were like a bunch of friends celebrating Christmas together.
I turned to Becca. "Aren't you gonna miss your family out there?."
Her eyes rose, "I was out of their business and they were not interested in mine, it's not the first time I didn't spend Christmas with them."
I nod, "With how annoying your sister is, I don't pity them at all." I told her and turned to Zavi, "Let's open the present so I can make good of the condoms."
"So where's your present, Nora?." Irene asked me.
"Oh, I might have ordered some weed for y'all. Get free weed, courtesy of me."
She smiled at me, "You're the best."
"I got you, girlfriend."
"And, um.Alec.I got you some special gift." I said and threw a booklet at him which he caught right.
He flipped through the pages and his eyes widened, "I got you into a cooking contest, the pamphlet is about the program."
"You cook, Alec?." Becca asked.
He smiled, like a little kid, "Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't think it was important to tell you."
I look at Zavi who played with my hair.
"Thanks, Nora. That was a rare gift."
I gave him a thumbs up and pulled out a box from my pants. It contained a gold necklace, I had used all my savings to get this for him. In the necklace, I asked the man who made it to have Zavi's name on it. It was simple and not heavy to wear.
I took it out of its container and wore it around his neck.
He smiled as he ran his hand on it.
"I know it's the little I can do but that's all I could think of after knowing you can afford everything money can buy, and…."
I gave him a photo album.
"I had William take these photos while you were working. You looked cool here." I stated, pointing at where he stood, lighting up weed, as he directed his men on what to do at the warehouse.
"It's beautiful, baby." He kissed my cheek.
I smiled, "Check the last slide."
He closed up the album and opened the last page.
It was a photo that was taken at the ball. We were on the dance floor, Zavi held my waist to himself as we unconsciously looked at each other.
"I love this, it shows how much we're into each other. I'm gonna enlarge it and hang it somewhere in my room."
"That's a good idea," I told him.
We looked at each other for some time, "Now, it's time for my surprise." Zavi said as he handed me a small white box with a red bow on it.
I looked down at it and up at him.
"What is this, Zavi?." I asked, others had lowered their voices and their attention was fixed on us.
My heart escalated as I pulled the bow off it, my eyes widened seeing what was inside.
"Let's get married." He stated.
I heard everyone around us gasp as I lifted the ring up.
I glanced at Zavi and saw how nervous he looked, his jaw clenching and unclenching. he bit down on his lower lip, his eyes wide with apprehension.
It was unbelievable.
"We're getting married?."
I asked to be sure. My eyes went to everyone as they waited for my answer, meanwhile, I was equally freaked out, it was new, Zavi had just proposed to me and not anyone saw that coming. Even Alec was surprised. No one expected this development.
Do you know what it means to be a part of the Romano family?
The family of the man that I used to hate and I'm about to get married to him. How the fuck did we get here?..
"Uhm.." I looked around again.
"I want to wake up one day and see you by my side, knowing you were mine. You've been the reason that I lived on, experiencing a new version of love. You make my life complete, you're my dream, each night that I close my eyes, I see you. You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that is an understatement. I love you babe, and every time I see you, I want to hold you in my arms and never let go. You’re the girl that fills all the little dark places in my heart. I fall in love with you every time I look into your beautiful eyes. I miss you when I’m not with you. When I’m not with you, all I do is think about you. When I think about you, I just want to be with you. When I’m with you it’s like all of my dreams have come true. I want to grow old with you, I'll always protect you till I die, marry me, Nora."
Tears streamed down my cheeks as he said those words to me. They were the words that I never thought of hearing in my life, it was like Disney and he was my prince charming, I was a princess, a cinderella with no hope, and my prince gave me hope.
My eyes widened when the almighty mafia king dropped down to one knee, as he held out the ring for me. His beautiful smile was full and completely real.
I glanced at Alec who had a genuine smile. He nodded at me to go on, everyone was eagerly waiting.
I turned back to Zavi, "Under one condition."
"Anything for you, my love."
I waited.
"I want your mother's blessing."
There was silence.
He didn't expect that.
He suddenly smiled, "That's a piece of cake, v."
I nodded happily, "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you, my mafia Don."
Everyone began cheering us up as he slowly slid the ring onto my finger.
I hugged him as he carried me up into his arms as he covered my face with a thousand kisses.