Chapter 14 - Why Maeve Was Chosen
Maeve didn't shout.
That frightened Kathleen more.
"You sent me into this house."
"Yes."
"Knowing Marco was watching it."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Kathleen's eyes filled.
"Because I was dying."
Maeve froze.
Kathleen quickly explained.
Not now.
Years earlier.
Doctors had found a tumor while she was hiding overseas.
At the time, they believed it might be terminal.
She panicked.
If she died, Maeve would never know the truth.
Kathleen needed someone capable of protecting her daughter.
She remembered the three Falcone boys.
She investigated the men they'd become.
Then arranged Maeve's placement.
"The diagnosis changed," Kathleen said. "The tumor was benign. By then the application was already moving."
"You could have stopped it."
"I know."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I was afraid you'd hate me if I appeared."
Maeve laughed bitterly.
"So instead you manipulated my life."
"Yes."
Dante remained silent.
This belonged to Maeve.
Kathleen didn't ask forgiveness.
That was important.
"I thought sending you near them would eventually force me to come back."
"It almost got me killed."
"I know."
Maeve looked at her mother for a long time.
"I love you."
Kathleen began crying.
"But I don't trust you yet."
Kathleen nodded.
"That's fair."
"You don't get to make choices for me anymore."
"I won't."
"And if you ever secretly arrange employment for me again, I'll personally change your identity."
Kathleen laughed through tears.
Maeve hugged her.
Forgiveness didn't arrive as one dramatic moment.
But the door opened.
The next day, Moretti House launched.
Dozens attended.
Claire helped serve food.
Nico flirted with the pastry chef until she threatened him with a rolling pin.
Luca ran coffee.
Dante stood quietly at the back.
Maeve gave a short speech about second chances.
Not the sentimental kind.
The difficult kind.
The kind people had to choose repeatedly.
After everyone left, Dante asked Maeve to walk with him.
They returned to Falcone Manor.
The kitchen lights were low.
On the marble island sat three plates.
Eggs.
Bacon.
Potatoes.
Maeve laughed.
"Who cooked?"
"All three of us."
"Should I call poison control?"
"Probably."
Luca and Nico appeared.
"We're leaving," Luca announced.
Maeve narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you announcing it?"
"No reason."
Nico dragged him away.
Maeve turned.
Dante was holding a small box.
"Oh."
He looked almost offended.
"That's all?"
"I'm waiting."
He opened it.
A simple ring.
Elegant.
No ridiculous diamond the size of a chandelier.
Dante took her hand.
"The first morning you cooked breakfast, I thought you were either fearless or insane."
"Correct."
"You walked into a house everyone escaped from and somehow made us want to stay."
Maeve's eyes filled.
"I don't want to own your future. I don't want to protect you from living it. I just want to be there while you do."
He lowered himself onto one knee.
"Maeve O'Connell, will you marry me?"
She stared at him.
Then at the ring.
Then behind him.
A phone appeared around the doorway.
Nico was filming.
Maeve pointed.
"Put that down!"
The phone vanished.
Dante laughed.
Maeve looked back at him.
"Yes."
For once, Dante Falcone looked completely defenseless.
She kissed him.
Behind the doorway came a muffled cheer.
Maeve laughed against Dante's mouth.
Then Dante's phone rang.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
Maeve frowned.
"Answer it."
He checked the screen.
His smile disappeared.
The caller was the federal prosecutor.
Dante listened.
Then slowly looked at Maeve.
"What?"
His grip tightened around the phone.
May you like
"Marco escaped custody."
And according to the prosecutor, he was coming home.
