Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Susanna
When I wake up, I see Gabriel, my sister, my mom, and Alek all at my side. Which is an unusual sight. So much so that I think I must be dreaming before I realize that I’m not.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my voice groggy.
“Shush,” Mom says, squeezing my hand. “You’re out of surgery. You were shot but you survived. Fortunately, the bullet didn’t hit any vital organs. You’re going to pull through. You’ll just have to rest and recover.”
That’s when I remember: Luca was the one who shot me.
“Luca?”
Nina frowns. “He’s waiting outside. He figured you wouldn’t want to see him.”
“He shot me,” I say flatly.
“To get to me,” Gabriel intervenes. “Luca and I agreed to make peace for yours and Nina’s sake.”
A flicker of hope enters my chest. “Truly?”
“Yes. We hate each other but we’re willing to do this. I’m willing to do this. For you.”
His admission catches me off guard. Gabriel has always been filled with darkness but right now, he’s letting me in. Letting me see the vulnerable, real side to him.
“I need to talk to Luca first,” I say. “I need to know he won’t try to kill me again.”
“I’ll go get him,” Nina says, leaving the room and coming back a moment later with Luca.
“Susanna,” he begins. To his credit, there’s guilt in his eyes. “I am sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt.”
“But you didn’t care if I was in the way, did you?”
He hesitates before sighing. “I was hellbent on going after Gabriel. I didn’t care about anything else and I should have.
I should have thought about you and Nina.
And for that, I am sorry. All I can do now is make peace with my enemy.
To make things right. I’m willing to fight for peace if you are. If Gabriel is.”
“I already agreed,” Gabriel explains. “But you have to agree too, Susanna.”
I look around at all the people closest to me. The love in my mom’s eyes. The relief in Alek’s. And the pride in my sister’s. She had the chance to grow into a woman she could be proud of when she married Luca and I want the same.
I want to live in a new life where I can be happy. Where I don’t have to be filled with so much anger. Where I can make the people around me proud.
The old me would have made Luca’s life a living hell for shooting me but I know he truly didn’t mean to hurt me. This new me has to grow and change. Has to be better.
And for the sake of everyone in this room, peace needs to happen. It’s the only way to keep all of us safe.
“I want peace too,” I say. “I want it more than anything.”
Luca inclines his head. “Thank you.”
“I want to talk to Gabriel alone.”
I can sense the hesitation in my family but if peace is going to happen, they all know they have to trust Gabriel, so they leave the room.
Gabriel comes over to my side and takes my hand. “I was so worried I would lose you,” he admits. “I’ve never cared this much about anyone before. I’ve never said these words to anyone before. But Susanna… I love you.”
I gasp. I never thought Gabriel was capable of it but he saved my life. He protected me until the end. And I know he’s my future. The one where I can become the woman I’ve always wanted to be.
“I love you too,” I admit. “I knew I was falling for you and I didn’t want to go there given everything. But I know I do. I know I love you. I chose to be your wife and I would choose it again and again if it means I get to me with someone who accepts me for me.”
“And you do the same for me. We may not get along with your family but we always have each other.”
“You’re willing to make peace… for me?”
“Almost losing you made me realize this. I never want to lose you again. So yes, I am. I’m tired of hiding anyway. You’ve become more important to me than revenge.”
Tears spill down my face. “You’ve become important to me too. I’m tired of fighting how I feel for you. I just want to be happy.”
“So, let’s be happy together.” He kisses my hand and the feeling of it makes a warmth spread through me.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I know there’s a lot of uncertainty. How long will the peace between Gabriel and Luca last? I’m not sure. Maybe only a month. Maybe until we all die of old age.
But what I do know is that I have found a man who loves me for me despite everything I’ve done and I’m not letting go no matter what.