32. Amelia
Chapter 32
Amelia
I can’t take my eyes off West as we ride the elevator up to our penthouse. He’s pale and a little groggy from the painkillers, but alive. The white bandages peeking out from his shirt are a stark reminder of how close I came to losing him.
“You okay, princess?” he mumbles, catching me staring.
I squeeze his hand. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
The elevator dings, and a small army of bodyguards flood out before us, sweeping the penthouse.
It’s surreal, like we’re some kind of royalty or dignitaries.
But West’s father insisted on the extra security, and Luca and Gabe insisted on their own team.
As we get further into the penthouse, I’m struck by how different everything feels. It’s the same space, but now it’s filled with relief, with love, but there is still a touch of lingering fear.
I’ve barely settled West on the couch when the concierge calls. One of his father’s bodyguards takes it.
“Send them up.”
Moments later, Luca and Gabe are here but also some faces I’ve never seen—or at least, remembered.
“Luca?” I smile. “Thanks for the extra security.”
“We are family now, Amelia, and with that comes our help whenever you need it.”
A man steps out of the elevator.
“This is my papa, Marco Senior,” Luca says.
Marco steps inside, followed by a stunning woman who must be his wife, Isabella. Another younger girl steps out. She has the most striking Caribbean blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Eyes like mine.
The lady rushes to me and cups my face in her warm hands. “Oh, my. You’re so beautiful. Just like your mamma.”
The girl, who must be their daughter Stella, hangs back, watching me with curious eyes. She’s beautiful, reminding me of the family photos I lost years ago.
Tears well up in my eyes as Isabella’s words sink in. “You...you knew my mother?”
Isabella nods, her own eyes glistening. “Oh yes. When she met your father we became best friends, despite the age difference. Your mamma was like a little sister to me.” She sighs. “Until we left Italy for a new life here in America.”
I know my parents never followed at that point.
My heart swells with a bittersweet ache.
All these years, I thought I was alone, and now, here’s a woman who knew and loved my mother.
“I have so many questions.” My voice shakes, thick with emotion.
“And I have so many stories to share,” Isabella says, pulling me into a warm embrace. “Of when you were a baby. But let everyone else meet you.”
As we part, the teenage girl steps forward, her azure eyes sparkling with excitement. “Hi, I’m Stella! Luca told me all about you and I can’t believe I've finally got to meet you!”
I smile, still a bit overwhelmed. “It’s nice to meet you too, Stella.”
“Oh!” She claps her hands together. “You have to come to my eighteenth birthday party! It’s in a few weeks. Please say you’ll come!”
“I...uh...” I glance at West, who gives me an encouraging nod. “Sure, I’d love to.”
Stella beams. “Great! Oh, and I have a sister too. She called Sofia, and she’s twenty. She’s at school right now, but you’ll meet her and all your other cousins soon.”
I have more family to meet.
My head is spinning.
Family. Cousins. Aunts and uncles.
It’s all so much to take in. I’ve gone from having no one to suddenly being surrounded by people who are claiming me as their own.
My heart aches with happiness. “Amelia,” the older man says, his voice choked with emotion. “I’m Marco. I’m so sorry to hear about your parents. My brother. Your father. I’m so sorry.” He holds out his arms.
I rush into them, overwhelmed by a sense of belonging I thought I’d lost forever.
When I go back to West, I take his hand again. “West, this is my family and this—” I look back at my newfound family, my heart swelling. “This is West, my fiancé.”
Marco steps forward, extending his hand to West. “It’s an honor to meet the man who’s captured Amelia’s heart. And a man who’s brave enough to take a bullet for her.”
“My bodyguard also did that.” West turns to Callum, who is sitting quietly with Jackson. A sling on his arm.
Marco strides over and shakes both men’s hands. “Well done for getting them out of there.”
“I still can’t believe I have a family,” I whisper, fighting back tears and looking at everyone. “I’ll have people on my side of the church.”
I glance at Gabe and Luca and ask, “Will you both give me away?” I probably should ask Marco, him being the senior member of the family, but, “I feel you gave me my life back.”
Gabe points his thumb at Luca. “You might not want Luca to give you away. He’s currently trying to get off a charge of murder. Your new family might not approve.”
Luca grumbles. “I was set up, and my new lawyer will get me off.”
His new lawyer. The mere mention of hurting the woman made his face contort with such anger that he killed for her. “You wish,” Gabe mutters under his breath and laughs.
“I still want you both to give me away.” I turn to West with pleading eyes. My family is mafia and I doubt that is going to go down well with his father.
“I won’t stop you from getting what you want, you know that?” West replies.
“Thank you.” I squeeze his hand. He lifts it and presses a soft kiss on my palm.
Luca punches Gabe in the chest and says, “Looks like we need to get a speech prepared.”
I laugh, loving how they are with each other.
“Are you okay?” West asks softly a little while later when he comes to stand next to me as I watch everyone chatting.
I nod, trying to gather my thoughts. “It’s just...a lot. I never thought I’d have this. A family. People who knew my parents. It’s amazing, but...”
“But overwhelming,” he finishes for me, taking my hand and squeezing it to reassure me.
I look around the room at all these unfamiliar faces, these people who are my family. They’re all watching me with such love in their eyes, and it’s beautiful, but terrifying at the same time.