𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆
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❅𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆❅

Everything was silent. 

Or everyone. 

Tazmin and Tahir were out in the hallway within minutes of being alerted about what happened. 

Meanwhile, Mazin and Ronan were talking to the head of security, Xavier, to help handle this entire situation. 

It was a brief discussion about how they should clean their bodies up, and how far off they should block the hallway. 

I decided to pull Nelli aside, noticing her silence. 

I had been in her shoes before, especially when it came to Dani.

"Are you okay?" was the first thing I asked my best friend, stopping a little further down the hallway from everyone else. 

"Yeah," Nelli said, sighing as if to gather her nerves, "I didn't mean to snap like that, but the things she was saying... how she knew what Dani did to you?" 

I felt my face soften at her words, reaching out to pull her into a brief hug. 

"Thank you," I whispered, even if I was unsure if thanking her was appropriate. 

But she just killed someone for me.

"You don't have to thank me—I'll do anything for you," Nelli didn't hesitate to say, hugging me back tighter. 

I laughed slightly, "I always remember you saying how you didn't want to be in the same room as a gun, so I just never expected... you know," I tried my best to explain. 

Nelli chuckled as we pulled back from the hug, "Just because I hate the idea of a gun, doesn't mean I'm afraid to use one," she quickly clarified, "My dad gave me one of his knives earlier for protection, which makes a lot of sense with everything going on." 

I nodded, "Yes, I-we're really sorry for keeping you out of it," I whispered, feeling bad for leaving her in the dark without her permission. 

Nelli shook her head, "It's fine, really. I'm just glad I had some kind of weapon or I would've ended up throwing hands with her," she admitted, naturally making a smile grow on my lips. 

"I love you so much," I said, reaching up to gently squeeze her arm, "Seriously, thank you." 

Nelli only smiled, "I love you more—and seriously, don't thank me," she mocked my previous words as her smile grew. 

I shook my head, with a growing smile, now feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. 

Minutes ago, it was like a weight was pressing down on me, but now... 

Now it's over and everyone is okay. 

More importantly, Nelli is okay. 

"Everything is good to go," I heard Mazin say from behind me, walking over to us. 

"I say we all leave," Tahir added, walking over with Tazmin and Ronan, "We didn't get to do Christmas together yet." 

I smiled at the idea—I would love to celebrate Christmas with everyone. 

This event is also the last place I want to be after everything that's happened, and I think everyone else can agree. 

"I think we should leave too," I said, agreeing with Tahir's idea. 

Mazin nodded, glancing over to Tazmin, "We could all meet back at the house," she suggested. 

"Yeah, Mil would like that," Tazmin determined, grabbing her phone from her pocket, "I'll text everyone to meet at our house in... how's an hour?" 

"That's good—I gotta pick up Alena," Tahir said, now backing away from us. 

I glanced over to Mazin with a smile, "Ready?" I asked her, lowering my voice between us. 

She hummed in response, nodding as she slid her arm around my waist. 

"We'll see you guys in an hour," I said, walking past them as they all nodded or mumbled something in acknowledgment. 

It only took a few minutes to exit the venue and get the car from the valet. 

Then Mazin insisted we stop for food since we hadn't had dinner. 

She was more concerned about me not eating rather than herself while it was vice versa for me, so we mutually agreed to stop. 

Chick-fil-A was quick and on the way—and luckily didn't close for another thirty minutes so it worked out perfectly. 

I swear I devoured the nuggets as soon as Mazin handed the bag to me. 

I also fed Mazin in the process, making sure to dip the nuggets and fries in Chick-fil-A sauce. 

We also had some of the Polynesian sauce too. 

It was the perfect meal and it left me feeling comfortably full. 

I was content as I sat in the passenger seat, watching the perfectly curated suburbs pass by as I held Mazin's hand in my lap. 

Everything that happened earlier felt like a fever dream. 

Almost as if it never even happened. 

I knew by the time it was cleaned up, it would seem like it never happened. 

From what I gathered, it's going to seem like Roxi and Carlos decided to take off and move, especially with the recent death of Dani. 

The only issue was the ceremony this weekend that they had planned, but I think that's handled as well. 

It helps that Mazin and Tahir have ties with the police and FBI so it's not too difficult to cover up, especially since the FBI already had eyes on Roxi. 

They hadn't yet figured out who the new head of the gang was, so we helped them decently with the case. 

"I'm scared to see how many gifts your parents have waiting under that tree," I said as Mazin and I walked past the different cars parked in the driveway. 

I noticed my dad was already here as well. 

I texted him on the way to Chick-fil-A so he knew we all left and were celebrating Christmas as originally planned. 

Just at night rather than in the morning. 

"They manage to go above and beyond every single year," Mazin said with a smile, shaking her head to herself. 

Tazmin and Lena somehow manage to top themselves each year. 

I seriously don't want to know how much they spend on Christmas alone. 

Much less on birthdays too. 

"Just in time," Omara said as we entered the foyer. 

I laughed at the way she rubbed her hands together in a fake plotting way. 

"Aw, you were waiting for us?" I asked, clearly joking with her as she walked with us down the short hallway. 

Omara nodded, "I sat on the floor in front of the door and everything," she said, going along with my joke. 

I laughed, recalling how she actually used to do that when we were kids. 

Omara would always wait by the door for me whenever I came over, and Mazin would get so mad when she stole me away. 

It was so cute. 

I smiled, noticing everyone already seated in the living room around the Christmas tree. 

My dad sat with Tazmin and Lena on the couch beside Nadia, Morana, and Zane. 

The twins sat on the other couch with Marie and Jada. 

Tahir sat on the floor in front of the plush armchair Alena sat in since she was still recovering. 

And then Ronan sat beside Tahir with Nelli, facing the mountain of presents. 

I barely had time to sit down before Lena clapped her hands together, standing up from the couch, "Okay, let's get this going. We’ve already lost an entire day."

Tazmin chuckled beside her, "Which is what it takes to open everything here," she said, shaking her head at her wife. 

"Right," Nadia chimed in, pointing at the tree, "That is an ungodly amount of gifts to get through."

Tazmin’s smirk in response said everything.

It didn’t matter if you were blood or not—if you were in this family, you got spoiled.

To start, we began with the usual process. 

Tazmin and Lena played Santa, handing out gifts while we opened them in turns. 

It was nice and comfortable, despite everything that had happened earlier. 

Maybe that was the best part of all of this—how easy it was to slip back into the warmth of family as if the night hadn’t been stained by blood.

Everyone got gifts, even my dad—who else brought a little something for Tazmin and Lena. 

Christmas at my dad's house was planned for tomorrow so we could do our own thing—Mazin would join our traditions too. 

I leaned against my girlfriend's shoulder as we watched Omara practically vibrate with excitement over her gift. 

"No way—" Omara tore the top open, scanning the words on the paper, "No fucking way."

Lena shook her head with a smile, "Language," she corrected her even if she wasn't entirely serious. 

Omara only read the paper, leaving me wondering what was on it, "Is this real? Like, actually real?" she asked. 

"Very real," Tazmin confirmed, "You start the internship this summer," she said, naturally making my brows raise in shock. 

Then I could feel my chest grow warm in excitement for Omara, squeezing Mazin closer to me. 

All Omara wanted was to work in fashion, and now that she'll be done with school this semester, she can finally go. 

Omara shot up so fast she nearly tripped over the pile of discarded wrapping paper, "I’m going to Paris!?"

I laughed, watching the moment sink in for her—she had worked so hard for this.

"Bro you're going to Paris," Tahir told her with a loose smile, amused by his sister's shock. 

She turned to her mom's with wide eyes, and before either of them could get a word out, she practically tackled them in a hug, "I love you guys so much. You have no idea," I heard her whisper.

Tazmin hugged her tighter, "We love you too qamari," she murmured back to her. 

"A whole summer interning at a fashion house," Nadia said, letting out a dramatic whistle, "You better send me free shit," she said, earning a few laughs from Morana and Zane.

"You'll get nothing, and be grateful," Omara shot back jokingly, her face still lit up with excitement.

I glanced over at Tahir, who was quiet again—too quiet. 

He was watching the gift exchange with that same look in his eye he’d had all night. 

The one that told me he was waiting for the right moment.

And sure enough, after the last gifts were handed out and the pile of wrapping paper had grown into a small mountain, he finally moved.

I watched with Mazin as he turned to Alena, shifting so that he was fully facing her now. 

Alena raised an eyebrow at him, "What?" she asked in confusion. 

He didn’t answer—just reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box.

The entire room fell silent, and I swear I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears. 

Nelli and Omara both bit back smiles, and Ronan just shook his head like he couldn’t believe it. 

"Finally," Tazmin mumbled as Lena's eyes visibly grew glossy, clutching Tazmin closer to her. 

"No for real," Vic subtly murmured to Tazmin as Marie seemed to be just as caught in the moment with Lena. 

Mav was already eating the Oreos that were in his stocking, sharing some with Jada. 

Alena, on the other hand, just stared at him, her eyes glancing down to the small box in his hand, "Are you serious?" she whispered, clearly caught off guard.

Tahir’s lips twitched, "For once, yeah," he said, which naturally made me hold back a laugh. 

Tahir is never a serious person, I swear. 

But right now... I don't know, I've never seen him so serious. 

Alena blinked, looking between him and the box, "Right now T?" she whispered, keeping her voice lowered.

"Right now," he repeated back to her. 

I caught the way Alena's fingers curled around the arm of the chair, her breath coming a little shorter, "Tahir—"

"I love you," he said, cutting her off, "I’ve loved you since I was twenty-three, and I know I’ll love you when I’m ninety. I don’t want to wait anymore, and I don’t want to spend another second of my life not knowing if you’re mine forever. So, Alena Grace Torres—" he cracked the box open, revealing a stunning, and very huge, diamond ring, "—Will you marry me?"

A heavy silence stretched for a long moment.

Then Alena let out a slow exhale, shaking her head slightly—but she was smiling.

She's smiling.

"Finally, Tahir," was all she managed to get out, laughing slightly. 

"I’ll take that as a yes?" Tahir asked, his smile growing into a grin as he stared up at her.

She laughed again, finally reaching forward to grab his collar and pull him into a kiss, "Of course, it’s a yes." 

The entire room broke out into cheers and ear-ringing applause. 

Omara jumped up and down, and Ronan clapped so hard his hands probably stung. 

I watched as Tahir slid the ring onto Alena’s finger, grinning like he just won the lottery.

And he did. 

He definitely won the lottery. 

Lena was full-on crying as she hugged Tazmin, clapping to the best of her abilities. 

"Told you he'd pull it off," I heard Tazmin tell her. 

Meanwhile, Vic gave a crisp twenty-dollar bill to Mav, probably betting on the entire thing, which I found hilarious. 

I smiled when Mazin hugged me closer to her in the midst of this happy moment.

"I love you," I whispered, feeling so grateful for her presence. 

"I love you too beautiful," she murmured back, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. 

I let out a slow breath, watching the way everyone settled back in, the joy lingering in the air like the soft glow of the Christmas lights. 

After everything, after the bloodshed and the chaos, we still had this.

Family, love, and a Christmas worth remembering.

"Paris is going to love me," Omara said, doing a twirl of her own as she reverted back to the paper in her hand, "Mama says French women are—" 

"Omi," Lena cut her short with an awkward laugh as Tazmin rolled her eyes at them both, her grip around her wife's waist tightening. 

"You better focus on your internship Omi," Tahir warned his sister in a brotherly tone as Alena admired the ring on her finger. 

"No dating," Tazmin told Omara, earning a laugh from me. 

Tazmin might genuinely lose her mind if Omara brings someone home. 

"Oh I have to be here when Omara starts dating," Nelli subtly mumbled, nudging Ronan who shook his head with an amused smile. 

"Mazi gave me plenty of tips for the girls," Omara said proudly, causing Tazmin to narrow her eyes at my girlfriend. 

I laughed yet again when Mazin raised her hands in defense, "We need her well educated," she said in defense. 

"My favorite is the number line," Omara said proudly as Mazin pursed her lips together. 

"The number line?" Tazmin asked as my dad laughed, mumbling a brief goodluck to them both. 

Omara nodded, "Yes Mazi taught me it," she said, clearing her throat before saying, "I lost my number, can you give me yours?" 

My lips parted, glancing over to my girlfriend who awkwardly glanced around. 

"J’ai perdu mon numéro, tu peux me donner le tien?" Omara suddenly said, the French words falling gracefully from her lips, "See, I already learned it in French."

"Oh god," Tahir mumbled with a smile, shaking his head as he glanced over to Mazin, "Mom's going to kill you," he snickered.

And I couldn't help but laugh, noticing Tazmin's pinpointed glare on Mazin. 

"We need to do better than that," Lena suddenly determined, causing her wife's stare to shift to her, "The French are romantic, Omi. I'll give you some better ways to flirt." 

Tazmin scoffed, holding a dramatic hand to her heart as if she had been wounded, "Don't do this to me—not Omi," she said to her wife who only chuckled. 

"We need to set her up for success. We need to give her the same tips we gave Mazi—" 

"Lalalalala—I'm not listening to this," Tazmin quickly covered her ears, walking out of the living room as Omara followed her, trying to get her on board with the idea. 

I glanced back to my girlfriend with a raised brow, "I lost my number, can I have yours... Really, Mazin?" I asked her in amusement. 

My girlfriend only shrugged, "It's worked before," she said, until she immediately cleared her throat, especially when I dramatically parted my lips, "I mean like you know uh... just once very briefly—really briefly."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "Oh sure," I mumbled, not even wanting to imagine her flirting with other women. 

"I mean, I'd rather flirt with my beautiful girlfriend anyways," Mazin subtly whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my cheek. 

I hummed, knowing exactly what she was doing. 

Truthfully, I didn't care that she had flirted with previous women before me. 

I'm with her now and I'm definitely not letting her go. 

Mazin also isn't letting me go either—she'll handcuff us together before she lets me put even a foot of space between us. 

"Guys! Hot chocolate!" Omara yelled out from the kitchen, grabbing everyone's attention. 

"I want mini marshmallows!" Nelli said, hopping up with Ronan as we all stood to migrate into the kitchen. 

The twins managed to beat us all into the kitchen, taking the first cups of steaming hot chocolate to dip their Oreos in. 

As the celebration continued in the kitchen, I held Mazin closer, letting the warmth of the moment fill me. 

This Christmas, after everything that happened, it felt like a fresh start. 

We survived the chaos, made our way back to each other, and now we were here, surrounded by the kind of peace that comes with knowing we have each other. 

This was the Christmas we finally found our way home.

The End.

❆Authors Note❆

This book has truly been one of the closest to my heart. I love writing about the Moretti family and their beautiful lives. Thank you all so much for reading and supporting me along the way. Every single one of you makes a huge difference to me and always helps me keep going. One thing I want to announce before we conclude this series is that a third book will be coming. I'm smiling ear to ear as I announce this because I have been waiting for so long. Omara's story in Paris will be coming soon, and Corrupted In Paris will be the third and final installment of this series. Hopefully, you're all as excited as I am. There of course will be an epilogue for A Corrupted Christmas coming next. I love you all and I can't wait to see you in my other books. 

-Weekendlustt