“Just eight?”
“Any more, and I’d probably be lying down, six feet under. I wanted to make this more special. I wanted to write out just how much you mean to me. Byron took that moment from me. So will you just trust me when I tell you that you mean the world to me? Will you be with me for the rest of your life? Will you marry me, and be my darling wife until the end of time?”
“Of course, I will,” I cry.
“Are you being serious?” he asks me. “Because I can’t think of a more perfect person than you. I know I’ve got my faults. I’m cocky and arrogant, and sometimes downright selfish. I’m a little perverted…”
“A little?”
He chuckles. “I know in my heart of hearts that it’s you I want to spend my life with. Forever.”
“I’ve never been more serious,” I say. “You don’t know how much I love you.”
“You haven’t even seen the ring yet. You’re going to really love me now.”
He laughs, opening the box. Inside is a stunning ring, covered in diamonds. Not too extravagant. Not too simple.
Shaking, he takes it from the box. “I think it’s timeless. Just like you.”
I try to hold back my tears, but it’s impossible. “It’s gorgeous,” I whisper. “Oh, Rocco. You ass. It’s perfect.”
“I love you, Madison,” he says. “Even if you said no, I’d still love you forever. You’re God’s gift to the world. I really believe that.”
The doctor knocks on the door before stepping inside the room. “Okay, my patient needs to rest,” she says.
I look like a wreck.
She turns to Rocco and smiles. “So, you did it? What did she say?”
I show her the ring on my finger, grinning like a maniac.
“She said no, and that she hates my guts,” he says.
“You’re very lucky,” the doctor says. “This guy is a real joker, but he’s been asking about you since he woke up. He really loves you.”
“I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
“He’s lucky too, I’m sure,” she says.
Then she turns to Rocco and says, “No more shootouts, okay?”
“I’ll try my best, doc,” he says.
Rocco
I’m lucky they didn’t amputate my leg.
I guess I bled out pretty badly before Ricardo dropped me off at the emergency room. If I didn’t have him with me, I would have died.
I owe him a lot.
The fact that I get to spend one more day with Madison is a blessing. I still can’t believe I’m alive to tell this story.
The road to recovery has been tough. It’s taken a lot of hard work and physical therapy to get back to “normal.” The police interrogations didn’t make it any easier.
After taking some days to go over the case, they realized my story checked out. It was a clear case of self-defense. Anyone would have fired back.
I did their job for them.