Chapter 29
SOFIA
I’m sitting next to my father’s bed when he wakes up. He looks around, sees me, and seems to remember everything at once. He immediately tries to get up. It would be more annoying if he could actually stand without nearly passing out. Thankfully, he’s not getting anywhere fast.
“Absolutely not,” I say, gently pushing him back into the bed.
Dad glares at me through one swollen eye. The other looks slightly less awful today, at least.
“I’m not staying here,” he mutters. “You can’t make me.”
“I don’t have to,” I say, frustrated. “You’re not strong enough to move.”
“I can move,” he grumbles petulantly.
He looks toward the doorway like he might make a run for it, then winces and sinks back against the pillows. His room is almost as nice as mine, with great views of the city and high-thread-count sheets. There are much worse places to recover, not that he’d ever admit it.
He’s been here two days already, but today was the first day he had enough strength to open his eyes.
Dr. Greco has been here twice for him and twice for me. Apparently, stress, kidnapping, and violent rescue missions are not ideal prenatal care.
Thankfully, the baby is fine. I’m also fine, physically. Dad, on the other hand, has two cracked ribs and a concussion.
He shifts on the bed and grimaces. I move toward him before I can stop myself, adjusting the pillow behind his shoulder.
“I’ve got it,” he grumbles.
“You do not.”
“Sofia.”
“Papa.”
Dad looks down at his hands, which are mottled with bruises and wrapped where the restraints tore skin.
“I’m sorry, Sofia,” he finally says, surprising me. “I said things I shouldn’t have said.”
“You said I was dead to you.”
His jaw tightens. “I know.”
“I needed you,” I say. “I know you were scared. I know you hate all of this. I hate a lot of it too. But I needed my dad, and you made loving you feel like another ultimatum.”
He swallows, and his eyes go glassy. I hate that. I hate it because it makes me want to forgive him too quickly, and he doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s hurt.
“I just wanted to keep you safe,” he says.
That makes me laugh once, tired and sad. “And look where it got us.”
“I know.” He looks toward the window, at the city beyond it. “Your mother used to tell me my pride was going to get me killed.”
“She knew you better than anyone.”
“She was my everything,” he says with a sigh.
“I’m still mad at you,” I whisper.
“I know, carina.”
“I’m probably going to be mad for a while. But I still love you.”
His hand comes up to my hair, rough and careful. “I still love you, too. More than I knew how to handle.”
We stay like that until my neck hurts and his breathing gets rough. Then I pull back, wiping my face with the heel of my hand.
“Also, you’re not leaving until Dr. Greco clears you.”
Later that afternoon, Dominic comes to see him. I’m in the sitting room outside Dad’s bedroom with tea I don’t want and a plate of crackers Chiara brought me. She wasn’t lying; she’s been incredibly nurturing since we came home.
Dominic appears at the end of the hall in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, looking tired in a way I’ve never seen on him before. He stops when he sees me.
“How is he?”
“Annoying.”
He chuckles. “I’d like to talk to him,” he says. “Do you want to be there?”
Part of me does. A big part. The nosy, anxious, deeply invested part. But they need to do this alone. I think it’ll help Dad act more rationally.
“No,” I say. “I’ll be right here.”
Dominic nods once, then goes into the room and shuts the door behind him. I immediately regret my maturity.
The door is too thick to listen through. I sit on the couch and stare at my untouched tea. The only thing that gives me any comfort is knowing Dad’s too weak to punch Dominic, and Dominic wouldn’t hit an injured man.
I think.
After ten minutes, the door opens. Dominic steps out looking perplexed. He pulls the door halfway shut and looks at me.
“Well?”
“He thanked me,” he says.
I blink. “My father?”
“Yes.”
“Did you record it?”
His mouth twitches. “No.”
“Such a shame.”
“He also said he may never trust me completely.”
I wince. “I’m sorry.”
Dominic shakes his head.
“Don’t be. I would think less of him if he did.”
I roll my eyes. Of course he feels that way. These macho men and their complicated feelings.
“I told him I’ll keep you and the baby safe whether he trusts me or not.”
I lean back against the couch, suddenly tired down to my bones. “That’s comforting.”
He studies me like he’s not sure whether to believe that, which is fair. I haven’t exactly been stable lately.
“I’m going to lie down,” I tell him.
“I can walk with you, if you want.”
“Because you don’t trust me?” I challenge him.
“No.” He smiles. “Because I’m tired of pretending that I don’t want to be around you all the time.”
That shouldn’t make me feel so emotional, but I feel the tears welling up anyway.
“Then, by all means,” I say.
We walk to my room together. Dominic doesn’t touch me until we reach my door, and even then, he only brushes his fingers against mine. My whole body responds to that small contact like I’ve been starving.
Inside the room, the bed is made. My sweater is draped over the chair where I left it before I destroyed everyone’s night. My purse is on the dresser. Someone must have retrieved it from the club. I stare at it for a second.
Dominic follows my gaze. “Rafe found it.”
I nod.
Dominic closes the door behind us but stays near it, like he does not want to assume he is allowed farther.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
His eyes lift to mine.
“For leaving,” I add.
“Sofia,” he says, putting up a hand to stop me.
“No, I need to say it.” I fold my arms, then unfold them because it feels defensive and I am trying very hard not to be. “It was stupid. Not brave. I knew it was a trap, and I went anyway because I was angry and scared and I thought doing something would feel better than waiting.”
His face tightens.
“It didn’t,” I say. “Obviously.”
He crosses the room slowly, stopping close enough that I can feel the heat of him but not close enough to trap me.
“I’m sorry for not being honest with you. I should have told you about moving Marco to a safe house.”
“You should have,” I agree.
“I have to stop assuming you can’t handle yourself,” he murmurs.
That surprises me.
I look up at him. He continues before I can say anything.
“You were incredible,” he breathes. “It’s been two days and I can’t stop thinking about how you took down Enzo. You’re a natural. Not that I ever want you in that situation again.”
I can’t help but laugh as I take a step closer to him.
“You mean you don’t want to see me kidnapped again?” I ask in a flirtatious voice.
“Absolutely fucking not,” he says, closing the space between us.
He brings his hand to my throat and rubs his thumb across my cheekbone. “In fact, for the next little bit, I’d love to not see you anywhere but naked in your bed.”
It’s bold, and we both know it. Still, it sends a delicious chill through me.
I take a step back and watch his face fall slightly. Then, slowly, I start to undress. His eyes darken and he licks his lips. When I’m completely stripped down, I back up against my bed and arrange my body in a way I hope is sexy.
“Is this what you had in mind, Mr. Vieri?” I ask in a husky voice.
I can already see the evidence of his arousal. “Yes, Ms. Bellini, I think that will work for me.”
I crook my finger for him to join me. I’ve never seen anyone take off their clothes so fast. I laugh giddily as he rushes toward me, basically jumping on top of me, though still careful not to hurt me.
“I think I’d like to try being naked in your bed too,” I murmur against his lips before I kiss him.
He immediately deepens it, exploring my mouth with his tongue. My body arches up to meet him. It’s not careful. I don’t have careful left in me. I kiss him with everything I have been holding back since I found out the truth about who he is.
Dominic makes a low sound and pulls me closer, his hand crooking underneath my lower back until I can feel his erection pressing against the place I desperately need him. He waits for my go ahead.
“I want you,” I whisper.
His eyes search mine. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He nods, and I shiver as his hand starts exploring me. I squirm underneath him, desperate for him to fill me. He doesn’t keep me waiting long.
The rest of the world narrows to him as he thrusts inside of me. All that exists is his mouth, his hands, the weight of him over me, and in me. I want this. I want him.
He reaches a hand between us and circles my swollen clit as he plunges deeper and deeper into me. I clench around him and come hard.
“That’s my girl,” he coos. “So beautiful when you come.”
I lock my legs around his hips and pull him deeper into me, his cock hitting the perfect spot over and over again, causing the coil of pleasure to tighten once again.
“You feel so good Dominic.”
He shudders against me and I know he’s getting close. His brow is already covered in a light sheen of sweat and he looks very focused. I cup his face.
“I need you to know,” he says, voice rough, “that I love you.”
That sends me over the edge. I start crying just as I reach my climax. It’s such a strange dichotomy, but it’s exactly the release my body needs. I wrap myself around him and force him to stay on top of me for as long as possible. Even when he’s found his peak and empties himself deep inside me.
“I love you, too,” I say when I can finally catch my breath. “So much.”
His breath catches and he collapses next to me, physically and emotionally spent. He pulls me against him and runs his fingers through my hair. It’s so gentle, so intimate. We only move to pull the comforter over us, and we lie there naked for what feels like hours.
Whatever is growing between us feels fresh and fragile. It feels like the beginning of something incredibly important. Something so precious, even words might shatter it.
Then I think, screw it. If we’re going to build something real, then we can’t be afraid to say the hard things. We can’t shy away from the things that scare us. We have to face them head on, together.
I rest my chin on his chest and run my fingers over his bare skin. “I think you’re my person,” I tell him.
He chuckles lowly. “I know you’re my person,” he says. “I hope that doesn’t scare you.”
I shake my head. “As long as I’m with you, I’m not afraid of anything,” I say, snuggling closer to him.