by Chelle Bliss
Oh.
My.
God.
Is he really…
I blink, gawking at him before my eyes widen.
Did he?
Nick Gallo is proposing to me.
He gives me a warm smile, something that’s common now. He’s so different from the first night we met, when he was all cranky and short. But then again, I was a sobbing mess who couldn’t even think straight.
Somehow, we changed each other. I got under his skin, and he opened up a world to me I never knew existed.
“I love you, Jo. I want you to be my wife.”
“Do it,” Gigi whispers at my side. “Say yes, girl.”
My mouth is still agape as I stare into his unwavering blue eyes. “Yes,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears as my vision blurs.
I’d been so in shock, I hadn’t noticed the room drop dead silent as every set of eyes focused on us.
“Yes,” I repeat again, reaching up, not even bothering to look at the ring, to grab his face. “I want this crazy, wild love. I want you.”
His lips are on mine a second later, kissing me deep and hard. I’m lost in the moment, forgetting everyone and everything around us until the catcalls start, followed by the clapping.
I back away, my face heating as I stare at my fiancé. A man I didn’t know two months ago, but now can’t imagine not being in my life. “Is this real?” I ask, still in shock as I stare at the princess cut diamond on my finger.
“Very real, babe. You’re mine now.”
“I’m yours,” I promise.
“Our numbers are getting better,” someone says, and I don’t understand what that means, but they’re all excited.
“Soon they’ll be outnumbered,” Max replies.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Angel says, placing her hand on my shoulder. “We’re so happy you’re officially going to be part of our family.”
Those are the words that will forever be etched in my brain. Not only do I have the love of a good man, but I have a family. I finally have something I’ve wanted my entire life and assumed I’d never have.
“Thank you,” I weep.
Nick wipes at my cheeks, drying my skin, and it only makes my crying worse. “I love you,” he whispers as the family celebrates around us.
“I love you too.”
“Yes, this is Isabella Caldo,” Izzy says, standing next to where we’re sitting. There’s a long pause, and then. “Say that again?”
The room grows quiet because Izzy’s joyous tone has vanished. As I tip my head back, staring up at Nick’s beautiful aunt, I see the color drain from her face.
“Which one?” She squeezes her eyes shut, clutching her chest with her other hand. “Where are they?”
“What’s wrong?” Nick’s grandma asks, walking toward her daughter.
Izzy’s hand, along with the phone, falls to her side. “There’s been an accident. Carmello and Rocco were in the car.”
Nick’s grandma touches Izzy’s shoulder. “Are they okay?”
“I don’t know. They said there’s one fatality, and the survivors are being transported to the hospital.”
“Oh God,” I whisper, covering my mouth, the happiness from a moment ago totally gone and suddenly unimportant.
“What’s wrong?” James asks, rushing into the room like he has a sixth sense.
“The boys. There’s been an accident.”
“How bad?” he asks, his body going rigid.
“Someone’s dead,” she whispers so softly, I can barely hear her.
“Our boys?” he asks her, moving quickly in her direction. “Are they okay?”
“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me,” she says to him as he grabs on to her, giving her the support she needs.
“Let’s go, baby. They’re okay. I know they’re okay. You’ll see,” he promises her, but his body is saying the opposite.
“What if—” she starts, but he shakes his head.
“Don’t,” he warns her. “Don’t say it, Isabella.”
What if the happiest day of my life is filled with loss and sorrow and is now one of the worst for the entire family?
Epilogue
Nick
Five Years Later
“Rocco,” I call out, waving him over. “Sit with us.”
He lifts his eyes from the sand for a moment to look our way. “In a bit,” he replies, but as soon as the words are out of his mouth, he drops his head down again.
Damn. The kid hasn’t been the same since the accident, and it’s been five years. Every day, I pray something pulls him out of the self-induced hell he’s placed himself in. Maybe someone. He can’t go on like this…not forever.
“Valentino, come here, baby,” Jo calls out, motioning for our son as he runs across the sand in his bare feet, squealing as he chases the sea gulls.
“Leave him be,” I tell her, running my hand across her giant belly. “You think we’re going to have a little girl?”
She covers my hands with hers. “Feels like a girl. This pregnancy has been so different from when I had Val growing inside me.”
“It’s a girl,” I whisper with a smile. “I need a little you running around the house, wrapping her body around my leg, begging for my attention. I need a daddy’s girl.”
“Be careful what you wish for, brother,” Jett tells me, dipping his head toward Celeste as she splashes in the waves with Gigi and Pike. “That one has me wrapped around her finger so hard, I’d bury a body for her without even asking a question.”
“Celeste wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Lily argues, running her hand up and down Jett’s leg. “So, you never have to worry about having to do that. But…”
“But what?” he asks her, sitting up a little straighter when she doesn’t answer right away.
“Wait until she starts dating. That’s going to be—” she smiles and stares across the sand at her daughter “—interesting.”
“She’s not dating until she’s thirty,” Jett tells everyone.
“Okay,” Tamara snorts. “Good luck with that one.”
“I’m down with that,” Mammoth agrees. “No way in hell is anyone getting near Riley. I’ll go to jail before any boy lays his hands on her.”
Tamara smacks his shoulder. “Stop. You will not.”
“Wanna bet?” he asks, lifting Riley’s little body higher on his chest. Her cheek is smashed against his skin, drool pooling underneath. “No one is ever hurting my baby girl.”
Tamara crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow. “What about Jackson? Will he have the same dating rules, then?”
“Princess, he’s a boy.” Mammoth smiles, totally missing the cues his wife is throwing his way.
“Da fuck does that mean?” She straightens, turning her ass around in the sand to face him. “Riley and Jackson are no different.”
“Penis says otherwise,” Mammoth jokes, but Tamara does not laugh.
“Oh boy,” Jo whispers, squeezing my fingers that are still resting against her belly.
“Jackson will be a man, Tam. He’ll be able to take care of himself.”
“Riley will be a woman someday, but make no mistake, she’ll be able to kick any man’s ass. Even Jackson’s.”
Jackson’s running after Valentino but stops when he hears his name. “Yeah?” he yells, his mess of brown curls blowing in the breeze.
“Nothing, baby. Keep playing!” Tamara yells back, shooing him with her hand.
Pike and Gigi make their way up the sand to the sea of blankets and towels we have set out.
Gigi sticks her head into the tent, checking on her little one, who’s fast asleep in the shade and has been for the last hour. “What’d we miss? Looks tense up here.”
“We’re talking about the kids dating.”
“What?” She pulls her head back out, staring at us.
“Well.” Tamara ticks her head at her husband. “This one said Jackson can have free rein because he has a dick, but Riley can’t date until she’s
thirty.”
“That’s stupid.” Gigi rolls her eyes. “But it’s totally man logic, even if it makes no sense.”
“Darlin’, man logic is going to win out on this one,” Pike says to her as he collapses back onto the blanket a few feet away.
“We’ll see.” She smirks. “Good luck controlling a teenage girl, baby.”
“If they’re anything like us, we’re screwed,” Tamara groans.
“Totally fucked,” I add. “You three were hell on wheels.”
“The two of them.” Lily points back and forth between Tamara and Gigi. “Not me. I was an angel.”
Gigi and Tamara burst into laughter.
“You were better behaved, but an angel you were not, Lily,” Gigi reminds her.
“I was an angel,” I add in, earning all the stares. “Fine, but I wasn’t the most out of control.”
Gigi purses her lips, staring at the kids as Rocco scoops them up in his arms as they squeal. “That’s debatable.”
“We can all agree on one thing…” I say, hugging my girl, staring at Valentino. “We all want the best for our kids, and at least they’ll have one another like we did. At the end of the day, all we have is family.”
I hope Nick made you swoon and left you with a big smile, too. Are you ready for more Gallos? The Men of Inked Heatwave continues in Ember…
Sexy Playboy Meets Hot Single Mother Neighbor.
Rocco Caldo is the guy all the women want. Tall, dark, and handsome with an edge that could cut deep if he’d let a woman get close enough to feel his sting. But when he stumbles into the wrong apartment, finding his sexy neighbor dancing around in her underwear…
Or visit menofinked.com/ember for more information on the next Men of Inked Heatwave novel.
I thought I’d share this funny little message from my amazing editor Lisa.
I can’t say I was 100% responsible for that ending. I spent the entire time writing on Zoom with Corinne Michaels and Carrie Ann Ryan. They’re bad influences. Please forward all angry messages to them
BUT…don’t worry. Have I ever killed a character?
I hope you’re ready for Rocco Caldo in EMBER.
Turn the page for a short note from me.
Thanks for being amazing!
Bliss Update
Finish Date: November 9, 2020
I’ve found it interesting to write a small message after I finish each book, looking back at what happened during that period. It’s a small chunk in time, but never uneventful…whether good or bad—especially now.
On October 16th, my maternal grandpa passed away at the age of ninety-four. That was the biggest, most important, and saddest thing that happened while I wrote Spark. The man was everything to me and our family. I was blessed to have him the first forty-four years of my life. His face always lit up when he saw me, and I’ll never forget how hard he loved me as well as his other grandchildren and three daughters. His laugh is something I will never forget. I hope he’s at peace, watching over us all now.
Exactly two months late, my paternal grandmother passed away, getting COVID just before Thanksgiving and never recovering. She died the day before my grandfather’s, her husband, birthday. She was laid to rest with him in Ohio a few weeks later.
This last few months has been a total kick in the balls.
You’ll be reading this at the start of 2021. I hope the year is better for us all than 2020 has been. It’s definitely one that will be imprinted on our minds forever.
Love Always,
Want some bonus reads?
ABOUT Chelle Bliss
She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, and ex-history teacher.
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MEN OF INKED SERIES
“One of the sexiest series of all-time” -Bookbub Reviewers Download book 1 for FREE!
Book 1 - Throttle Me (Joe aka City)
Book 2 - Hook Me (Mike)
Book 3 - Resist Me (Izzy)
Book 4 - Uncover Me (Thomas)
Book 5 - Without Me (Anthony)
Book 6 - Honor Me (City)
Book 7 - Worship Me (Izzy)
MEN OF INKED: SOUTHSIDE SERIES
Join the Chicago Gallo Family with their strong alphas, sassy women, and tons of fun.
Book 1 - Maneuver (Lucio)
Book 2 - Flow (Daphne)
Book 3 - Hook (Angelo)
Book 4 - Hustle (Vinnie)
Book 5 - Love (Angelo)
MEN OF INKED: HEATWAVE SERIES
Same Family. New Generation.
Book 1 - Flame (Gigi)
Book 2 - Burn (Gigi)
Book 3 - Wildfire (Tamara)
Book 4 - Blaze (Lily)
Book 5 - Ignite (Tamara)
Book 6 - Spark (Nick)
Book 7 - Ember (Rocco)
Book 8 - Singe - (Carmello)
ALFA INVESTIGATIONS SERIES
Wickedly hot alphas with tons of heart pounding suspense!
Book 1 - Sinful Intent (Morgan)
Book 2 - Unlawful Desire (Frisco)
Book 3 - Wicked Impulse (Bear)
Book 4 - Guilty Sin (Ret)
SINGLE READS
Mend
Enshrine
Misadventures of a City Girl
Misadventures with a Speed Demon
Rebound (Flash aka Sam)
Top Bottom Switch (Ret)
Santa Baby
Fearless
NAILED DOWN SERIES
Nailed Down
Tied Down
Kneel Down
Stripped Down
TAKEOVER DUET
What happens when you sleep with your biggest enemy?
Book 1 - Acquisition
Book 2 - Merger
FILTHY SERIES
Dirty Work
Dirty Secret
Dirty Defiance
LOVE AT LAST SERIES
Book 1 - Untangle Me
Book 2 - Kayden
View Chelle’s entire collection of books at menofinked.com/books