Chapter 26
The early morning was cold when the fleet of black cars stormed into the hospital parking lot. Doors flew open with force. Armed men stepped out first, sweeping the perimeter with cold eyes. Only then did Vincenzo’s parents arrive.
His mother rushed inside, desperate, her heart racing the moment she learned her sons were in a hospital after an attack.
Red eyes, pale face. In the hallway she found her younger sons.
All of them were being examined and treated by nurses.
They were hurt, their clothes still stained with dried blood.
For a second she just looked at them. Then she ran and pulled them into her arms, hugging both at once.
“My boys…” Her voice came out rough, broken.
“We’re alive, Mom,” Lorenzo murmured, trying to smile.
But she was crying. Crying as if she still couldn’t believe it. She checked every detail, making sure no fingers or hands were missing.
Their father arrived right behind her. More controlled. More dangerous. His eyes scanned his sons’ wounds before he said a word.
Eleonora stood a little farther back, exhausted, next to Leonardo. They had already been treated and examined by the doctors.
Vincenzo’s mother went over to greet her.
“Eleonora, are you all right? I’m so sorry about the attack. My husband is already taking care of things and we’re hunting down the ones responsible. We know your father ordered the attack… I’m so sorry. Where is your husband?”
Francesca bombarded Eleonora with questions, trying to ignore the man standing beside her—but she found it strange when she saw Eleonora holding his hand so intimately.
“If you’re asking about Vincenzo, he’s in the room. He’s resting after the painkillers. Vincenzo is no longer my husband. Our marriage was fake.”
Eleonora spoke seriously, not caring whether the woman would stop treating her kindly or speaking to her.
Her real mother-in-law had been humble, sweet, and adored her—especially since she had no other daughters of her own.
She used to bake cakes whenever Eleonora visited.
That world no longer needed to belong to her.
That world now belonged to Vincenzo and Sara.
Francesca stepped back a little, looking at the two of them, then gave only a polite smile before withdrawing.
“I understand… Well, be happy… I’m going to see my son.”
“Which room is Vincenzo in?” Francesca asked, turning back to her younger sons, who were talking with their father.
Mateo answered, “At the end of the hallway. He had minor surgery, but the doctors said he’s stable now. He’s resting because of the painkillers.”
Francesca felt a wave of relief and turned to head toward her son’s room.
“His woman is in there with him too,” Mateo added.
Their father frowned.
“But Eleonora is out here with us… Wait…”
Vincenzo’s father looked over at Eleonora, standing farther away in the arms of a man who seemed to be trying to calm her. She wasn’t looking at them.
The brothers exchanged a look that was almost amused, despite their exhaustion.
Lorenzo answered, “Not that one… The real one.”
Heavy silence.
“And their newborn is in there too.”
The mother brought her hands to her mouth. The father stood still, processing. The rumors he had ignored for months now had a face and a name. But he had already suspected it might be true, considering his heir had vanished for the past few months without a word.
He looked at his wife in silence, and the two of them started down the hallway, his hand resting on her back. When they opened the door to the room, the scene stopped them cold.
Vincenzo slept in the bed. Pale face, thick bandages across his abdomen, an IV in his arm.
Beside him, in a comfortable armchair, sat his Sara.
Eyes closed. Deep shadows under them, hair a mess, holding his hand as if letting go would mean losing him forever.
In her arms, Catarina slept—tiny, fragile, completely unaware of the blood that had been spilled for her.
Vincenzo’s mother felt her eyes fill with tears again.
“Oh my God…”
The father walked slowly to the bed and rested his heavy hand on his son’s head.
It brought back painful memories—of the day Vincenzo had been born and nearly died, when the hospital had been attacked, when people had come after them trying to kill his firstborn.
He had almost lost Francesca and Vincenzo that day.
His eyes filled with tears because it felt like history was repeating itself with his son.
He had nearly lost him again… but this time, Vincenzo had been protecting his own family.
Vincenzo stirred. His heavy eyelids opened. He recognized his father and let out a long breath.
“Dad…”
It took the older man a few minutes before he could speak without crying. “We came as soon as we heard.”
Vincenzo turned his head, searching for his Sara, terrified that she might already have vanished and left him alone. But she was still there, sleeping now, exhausted, yet her fingers still tightly held his.
“So this is your woman?” his father asked, voice low.
Vincenzo didn’t hesitate. The smile that appeared was weak, but fierce.
“She’s the love of my life. The mother of my daughter.” His voice came out rough, possessive even in the state he was in. “And I killed for them. I’d die for them without hesitation.”
Francesca’s tears fell as she listened to her son speak. She approached the armchair, looking at her son’s woman and then at her granddaughter with a mixture of emotion and pain. She reached out, but stopped just short of touching.
“She’s beautiful… so small… What’s her name?”
Vincenzo looked at the two of them with an intensity that was almost painful.
“Catarina… Her name is Catarina. My firstborn… They almost died because of me.” His voice cracked for a second. “I almost lost them…”
His father placed a hand on his shoulder. He knew exactly what that feeling was—pure terror.
“But you didn’t. Now you have a family to protect. And that means the war never ends, son. It’s up to you to make your family stronger now.”
Vincenzo nodded slowly, his eyes darkening.
“I know…”
His mother stroked his hair the way she used to when he was a child.
“Rest. We’ll take care of the rest for now.”
They left in silence, leaving the room in soft darkness.
When the door closed, Sara startled. She opened her eyes and gripped his hand tighter.
“Vincenzo??” she whispered, her voice still heavy with residual fear.
Vincenzo held her hand firmly and stroked it gently.
“I’m right here, amore. I’m not going anywhere…” His eyes dropped to the baby, then rose to her face, dark and intense. “You two are mine. No one touches what’s mine ever again.”
Sara closed her eyes, tears falling slowly.
“You’re okay… I was so scared of losing you…”
“I know. But I came back. And I’ll keep coming back. Even if I have to drag my body out of hell every time.”
Sara didn’t say anything more. She kept her eyes closed, crying softly, as if reliving every trauma they had been through.
“Come here, amore. I love you. Come here and lie with me… I don’t want you thinking about that anymore.”
She carefully stood with the baby and placed her in a hospital bassinet, then went to the bed where Vincenzo lay and settled on the side that wasn’t injured. She curled against his chest, holding him as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
He kissed her forehead, brought a hand to her hair, and stroked it slowly, trying to calm her.
“I love you, Vincenzo… I love you… I’m capable of doing terrifying things to protect you and our daughter.”
“I know you are, amore… But you’ll never have to again, because I’ll take that role. You can rest and protect our children. Can you do that for me?”
Sara sighed, trying to control her emotions. “I will… You’ll never be completely alone in the fight, Vincenzo. I’ll protect you in my own way, and I’ll teach our children to protect our family too. You’ll never be alone. I’m here for you as well.”
An expression Vincenzo had never seen on his sweet Sara’s face appeared—as if she were ready to annihilate an army for that small family. His chest filled with pride.
“You really are my wife… My soulmate… I’m proud to have you, Sara… You always impress me.”
“I love you… My legendary prince.”
Vincenzo’s smile spread as he remembered the nickname she had given him when they first met, and he kissed her. He knew he had made the right choice this time.
He would never be alone again…
This was his family. He was finally home.