"I’m just saying, my daughter called her boyfriend instead of 911 during a crisis."

Emma’s face turned totally red. "He is not— We are not—I mean—"

Zayn couldn’t help but smile.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you two aren’t a thing?"

"I—" Emma looked flustered. "That’s not what we’re talking about right now!"

"It seems relevant to me," Alexander said calmly. "You had a ring on at the hospital. A really nice one. On your left hand."

Emma glanced down at her hand, realizing she still had the ring on.

Zayn felt a weird mix of feelings in his chest.

She was still wearing it.

Even with all the chaos of heading to the hospital, she hadn’t taken it off.

"It’s—that is—" Emma stumbled over her words. "We’re talking about you right now, not me. Stop changing the subject."

Alexander smiled wider. "I’m lying in a hospital bed. I should be able to change the subject if I want to."

"That’s not how this works."

"I think that’s exactly how it works."

Emma let out a frustrated sound. "You’re impossible."

"I learned from the best," Alexander said, giving her a knowing look.

Despite everything, Emma cracked a small smile.

Alexander shifted his focus back to Zayn. "So, Zayn Virelli. You own La Virelli and a bunch of other popular restaurants. You come from a well-off family and have quite a bit of cash."

Zayn raised an eyebrow. "You looked me up."

"Of course. You’re a public figure; everyone knows who you are, Young Virelli. You took my daughter out. What kind of dad would I be if I didn’t check you out?"

"A trusting one?" Zayn threw it out there.

"That’s not my style."

"Clearly."

Emma put her hand over her face. "Oh my gosh. Can you two not do this right now?"

"Do what?" Alexander asked.

"This," she waved her hand between them, "the whole measuring each other up thing. Dad, you’re in a hospital bed. Zayn, you’re—" She stopped. "You’re just standing there looking way too amused."

Zayn’s grin got even bigger. "Sorry."

"You’re not sorry at all," Emma shot back.

"Not really," Zayn admitted. "I’m honestly not."

Alexander chuckled—actually laughed—and then winced a little. "Ow. Okay, laughing hurts."

"Good," Emma said without any sympathy. "Maybe it’ll teach you not to freak me out like that again."

"That’s kind of harsh."

"You deserve it."

Alexander looked closely at his daughter. He noticed the worry in her eyes, the way she was still gripping his hand as if he might disappear, and the ring on her finger.

"Wait," he said slowly. "Let’s talk about that ring for a sec."

Emma instantly tried to pull her hand back, but Alexander held on.

"Emma Kane," he said, "is that an engagement ring?"

The room went silent.

Emma looked over at Zayn, who was holding her gaze. Alexander switched his attention between them.

"It’s kind of complicated," Emma eventually said.

"How complicated are we talking?" Alexander asked.

Emma took a deep breath. "He... sort of proposed. I haven’t really... made up my mind yet."

Alexander went completely still. "He proposed."

"Yeah."

"After knowing you for how long?"

Emma didn’t respond.

"Emma. How long?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"A week," she said quietly.

Alexander gazed at her, then at Zayn, and back to Emma.

Zayn tensed up, ready for a reaction.

Instead, Alexander suddenly started laughing—actually laughing this time, even though it clearly hurt him a bit.

"A week," he said between chuckles. "He proposed after just a week."

"Dad—"

"That’s either super romantic or totally nuts."

"Both," Emma murmured.

Alexander looked at Zayn, impressed. "Bold move, Mr. Virelli."

"I knew what I wanted," Zayn replied honestly.

"Clearly." Alexander studied him for a moment. "And what do you want exactly?"

"Her," Zayn answered right away. "For the rest of my life. If she’ll have me."

Emma let out a little sound and covered her face with her hands.

Alexander’s expression softened. "So, you’ve been wearing the ring even though you still haven’t answered me."

"I—" Emma peeked through her fingers. "Maybe."

"Emma."

"Okay, fine. Yes. I’ve been wearing it."

"Why?"

"Because it makes me feel safe," Emma admitted. "When I look at it, I remember someone wants to spend their life with me. Because—" She paused. "I don’t know. I just like having it on."

Zayn felt a warm tightness in his chest.

Alexander smiled. "I guess I should start figuring out how to pay for a wedding."

Emma dropped her hands. "Dad!"

"What? You just said you like the ring."

"That doesn’t mean—I haven’t said yes yet!"

"But you haven’t said no either," Alexander pointed out.

Emma opened her mouth, then closed it again. Then she tried again. "I seriously can’t stand both of you right now."

"No, you don’t," Zayn replied.

"I really do, at this moment."

Alexander squeezed her hand. "For what it’s worth, sweetheart, I think he’s a pretty good choice."

Emma looked at her dad in surprise. "Really?"

"Yep," Alexander confirmed. "He took you to the hospital. He stayed with you. He obviously cares a lot. And—" Alexander lowered his voice to a whisper, "—you called him. When you were scared and needed help, you called him. That says a lot."

Emma’s eyes filled with tears again. "You’re still the most important person to me."

"I know," Alexander said softly. "But I won’t always be around, Emma. When I’m gone, I want to know someone will be there for you."

"Don’t talk like that."

"I’m just being realistic."

"Okay, stop right there. You’re not going anywhere," she said, sounding really serious.

Alexander gave a sad smile. "If that’s what you want."

Emma leaned in and rested her forehead on his shoulder. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, kiddo," Alexander replied, his voice thick with feeling. "More than anything."

Zayn watched them, feeling like he had a knot in his throat.

This man—this killer, this lawbreaker, this person who had done terrible things—had real love for his daughter.

Completely. No hesitation. No doubt.

And when Emma found out the truth, it would wreck her.

Zayn pulled out his phone and quickly shot a message to Zayden.

"We need to be super careful with this. Emma can’t know the truth. Not now, maybe not ever. It would break her."

He hit send and hoped Zayden would get it.

If they handled this wrong, Emma would be the one destroyed.