52. Imperfectly Perfect
CHAPTER 52
IMPERFECTLY PERFECT
S erena
My head feels likes someone took a jackhammer to it, but I crush Antonio to my chest all the same, ignoring the throbbing ache in my temples. “You’re okay,” I repeat, more to convince myself than him. His lips brush mine, softly, but the gentle touch only lasts for an instant. He grips the back of my neck, and the sweet kiss becomes fiery and demanding, distracting from the ache across my skull to the one already developing between my legs.
Our tongues entwine in a scorching dance, teeth gnashing as we devour each other. Every stroke of his tongue is demanding, insistent and all-consuming. It’s everything. Dio , for a terrible moment I thought I’d lose him. And before having the chance to tell him how I really feel…
I rip my mouth from his, my chest heaving from the building fire that always rages between us. “Wait,” I murmur, his breath still mingling with my own. “I need to tell you something.”
His dark eyes sear to mine, hands gripping my face in desperation. “Anything, tesoro .”
“I should have said it before… I was just scared because?—”
“Because this raging inferno between us isn’t exactly conventional?” A smirk tips up the corners of his mouth. And I just want that mouth all over me.
I nod.
“You don’t have to say anything if you aren’t sure.”
“No, I’m sure. That’s the terrifying part.” My eyes chase to his, then hold for an endless moment. The tempest of emotions surging below the sleek surface only amplifies my resolve. “I love you, Antonio Ferrara. You are probably the worst decision I’ve ever made, but I can’t seem to regret it. You’re as perfectly imperfect as I am.”
He chuckles, the smile setting those onyx orbs ablaze in starlight. “No, you’re wrong, you are perfect in every way, amore .” His hand cups my neck, bringing my lips to his again. I’m dizzy from blood loss or maybe it’s his ravenous kiss, but I don’t dare pull away. Not when we were so close to losing each other forever.
The front door whips open, wood cracking against plaster and Antonio leaps up, gun trained at the entrance. My eyes nearly pop out of my head when I take in the familiar form darkening the doorway, and again when the other three figures appear behind him.
“Raffa?” Antonio mutters, lowering his gun.
“Who the fuck else did you expect, stronzo ?” Raffaele keeps his weapon pointed at his older brother.
“Oh, my gawd, Serena!” Isabella barrels toward me with Matteo and Alessia trailing behind, and Raf finally lowers the gun. “Are you okay?” She hauls me to my feet and the entire living room spins.
“I think I will be.”
Her eyes rake over me, not the ones of a concerned family member, but those of a soon-to-be doctor. “Shit, Sere, you’re going to need stitches, and you probably have a concussion.”
“But I’m alive.” I offer a weak smile. Antonio curls his arm around me, and the collective gasp from around the room is deafening. “Largely thanks to him.” I throw my thumb in Toni’s direction.
“But you never would’ve been in danger if he hadn’t captured you in the first place,” Raf snarls.
Antonio stiffens beside me, his guilt pouring off in suffocating waves. “I’ve already apologized countless times, and I will continue to do so until I’ve proven myself.” He glances at each of my cousins. “To all of you.”
“Listen, Raf…” I throw a glare at the righteous bastardo , “this is between your brother and me and if I’ve been able to forgive him for the little abduction thing then so can you.”
“But will Dante?” Matteo throws me a wicked grin.
“I’ll handle my father.”
“Well, you better figure it out quickly because he should be landing in Rome in the next few hours.” Bella eyes me then Antonio, and her lips twist. After all the terrible things she’s heard about him from Raf, it’ll take a while for her to understand. But I’m sure she will eventually.
“Wait, how did you guys get here so quickly?” I eye my cousins, the relief in seeing them all here jumbled with the emotional overload of the past hour. I’d only just texted Bella when Santi and Federico arrived.
“We flew in with our parents last night,” Alessia replies, “to see Alessandro.”
Of course. So Bella was already on the jet when I spoke to her last. That sneaky little…
“How is he?” I blurt.
“Better,” his sister answers, “but it’s going to be a long recovery.”
The guilt I’d felt bubbling from Antonio seeps into my own gut. It’s my fault he came. I’ll never forgive myself for what I put him through.
“And we figured you could use our help.” Bella’s words interrupt my shame spiral. Then she winds her arm around Raf’s waist, leaning against her big bodyguard. “So we took the first train to Rome this morning after checking in on Ale last night.”
“Well, as you can see, we had this under control.” I motion to the heap of bodies scattered around the living room.
Matty eyes the two motionless figures, dark brows knitting as it focuses on one. The one that still hurts to look at. “Is that your friend, Santi?”
I wave a dismissive hand. “Yeah, it’s kind of a long story.”
“Holy shit, Sere,” Bella cries.
“We all know I’ve never had great taste in men.” I throw Antonio a smirk before brushing my lips against his stubbled cheek. “Until now.”
More groans echo across the room.
“That’s highly debatable,” Raf mutters.
“Thank you, amore .” He presses a kiss to my temple, and the throbbing subsides a touch.
“ Amore ?” Bella’s curious gaze bounces between us. “You guys are in love?” she blurts. “I thought this was just hate sex.”
Heat flushes my cheeks as I glance up at Antonio who wears a matching ridiculous grin. “No, it’s definitely love.”
“Oh man, Dante is going to lose his shit.” Matteo throws his head back, chuckling.
Releasing Toni, I jab my elbow into my cousin’s gut. “Shut up and keep your mouth closed about all of this. I need to have a serious sit down with Pa when he arrives.”
“Maybe you should leave Antonio with me for safe keeping,” Raf offers.
I eye his younger brother skeptically. “I don’t think so.” I’m not sure who hates Toni more, Raf or my father.
“I’ll make sure he’s safe,” Bella cuts in before lancing a glare in Antonio’s direction. “I’m going to trust in Serena’s rather questionable decision-making skills for now, unless he proves otherwise.”
Antonio draws in a breath, then takes a step toward my cousin, but he doesn’t make it far before Raf jumps between them. Toni lifts his hands, palms up. “I mean Isabella no harm, Raffa.” Then his gaze pivots to Bella. “I only wanted to apologize for all that you suffered under our father’s hand. I will spend the rest of my days trying to make up for my sins against you and Serena.”
Bella nods and relief floods my system. “Just don’t fuck with my cousin, or I’ll murder you in your sleep.”
Antonio chuckles. “I would never.” He draws me into his side, his warm breath spilling through my hair as he plants a kiss to the top of my head. “I love Serena more than I ever thought possible. She's been the light in the darkest of days, the calm in the chaos that surrounds me. Without her, I'd be lost in a world that offers no forgiveness. She’s not just my love, she’s my whole heart.”
Raf snorts on a laugh as the girls ooh and ahh . “Who knew you were such a poet, Tonio,” he grumbles.
“Raffa…” His voice softens as he steps closer to his brother, his words a mere whisper. “I don’t think I could ever apologize enough for my behavior over the last ten years.” His dark eyes glisten with unshed tears as he regards his brother. “I tried the other day on the phone, but I don’t think you were ready to hear it then. Maybe now, you will be. I won’t pretend to think we could ever go back to how things once were between us, but I’d like to try. I’ve done everything wrong over the years since Mamma died, but you’re my baby brother and I love you. I need you in my life.”
Raf stares at him, eyes wide, jaw slack.
“Say something,” Bella whispers.
“Okay,” he mutters.
“ Grazie .” Toni makes a move to hug his brother, but he backs out the last minute, tucking me closer instead.
“Not that all of this isn’t lovely and all,” says Alessia, “but the smell of blood and fresh bodies is making me gag.”
I snort on a laugh, shaking my head at my cousin. “Alessia is right. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Do you need me to call a clean-up crew?” Raf offers.
Antonio’s expression darkens, and I know he’s thinking about Pietro. His righthand man’s body is strewn across the floor at the entrance. At least Toni knew his friend had remained loyal until the end.
“I’ll handle it,” he grits out.
“What about Enrico Sartori?” The question erupts before I can stop it. He’s going to lose his shit when he finds out his son and heir is dead. Who would pay the price, just Antonio or would the Kings be in the crosshairs now?
“I’ll take care of that too. The Sartoris are my problem.”
A whisper of fear streaks through me. “I’m going with you.”
Antonio shakes his head, a rueful grin pulling at his lips. “I would try to argue, but I have a feeling there’s no point.”
“You’re damned right, amore .”
“Smart man.” Bella shoots me a wink. “I think I’m starting to understand why you fell for him.”