Chapter 42 DAN
DAN
The sun slants through the living room window, casting golden light over the blanket draped around Rose’s shoulders. She sits propped against the cushions, her legs thrown over mine, a book in her lap, but her eyes aren’t on the pages. They’re on me.
“What’s that look for?”
“I was just reading and the main character was chewing gum. I haven’t seen you chew your strawberry gum for a long time. Or any gum, for that matter.”
“The strawberry reminded me of you. It always calmed me down.” I shrug a shoulder. “I suppose now I have you, I haven’t needed it.”
I stroke my thumb over the bare skin on her feet, reminding me of the massage I gave her in the hotel room.
My plan is to give her plenty more of those and anything else she wants.
I’ll never take her for granted. We may not quite be home yet, but I’m so fucking glad she’s out of hospital.
After six weeks of recovery, she’s finally able to walk without aids.
I look forward to the day I can get her back to the UK, but we still have unfinished business here, hanging over our heads like a bad smell.
An alarm goes off on my watch. I twist to the small table at the side of the sofa, a twinge tugging at my ribs like it does with any sudden movement, but it’s a fraction of what she’s been through. “Time for your meds.”
Her lips curve into a smile as I open her daily pill box.
“Your magic pill, fiore mio.” I hand her the pills one at a time.
“You mean the pill I have to take so I don’t reject you?”
A small laugh escapes. “Yes. That’s the one.”
She tips the pill into her mouth, chasing it down with water. "Bet you’ve been dying for years to have me this obedient."
I grin. "Took a bullet and a transplant, but hey, worth it."
She swats my hand with a giggle. “So romantic, really. You giving me drugs to make sure my body doesn’t reject you.”
"You say drugs. I say binding contract." I slide my hand along her thigh, slow and deliberate. "You were mine long before medicine caught up."
She gives me a mock glare. "Next, you’ll be microchipping me like a dog."
I grin against her temple. “Don’t tempt me. Could save me a lot of anxiety.”
Her hands smooth over the cotton t-shirt on my chest. “You’d just program it to shock me every time I argue with you.”
I laugh low and kiss the top of her head. “Don’t give me ideas. That sounds like it could be fun.”
She lifts a brow. "Next, you’ll be handing me a collar and lead."
I lean in, dropping my voice. "Only if you ask nicely." I dip my head, my lips brushing her ear, my voice a rumble against her skin. "Maybe we should write that in our wedding vows. Start with: Rose promises to take her meds and let Dan do whatever he wants…”
She shivers, pressing her thighs together as if she’s trying to contain the heat building between us. “Not sure I need a pill for that.”
I kiss a trail down her neck, whispering against her skin, “And in return, Dan promises to worship every inch of her… for life.” I slide my hand up her calf. “How are you feeling?”
“The same as I was five minutes ago—the last time you asked me. Only now I’m turned on.” She presses her lips to mine, slow and teasing, her brow arching with a look that says, wanna take this upstairs?
My blood heats, my body already answering for me as I search her face.
"You sure you're feeling up to it?" Concern tightens my chest, even as my hands itch to climb between her thighs, even if its to pleasure her with my tongue like I did the night she came out of hospital, making her lie on the bed and not move.
She gives me a wicked grin, dragging her fingertips lazily down my chest.
"I'm a pillow princess, remember?" she teases. "You’re the one doing all the hard work. But if you need more time after your surgery…" She lets the sentence hang in the air, all fake sweetness and wide eyes.
I narrow my gaze, a slow, dangerous smile pulling at my lips. "Fiore mio," I murmur, my voice dropping low as I lean in, "the only thing you need to worry about is whether you can handle me."
Her laugh bubbles out, soft and sexy, as she hooks her fingers in the collar of my t-shirt, dragging me closer. “I was made to handle you. Now take me upstairs before Angelos comes in wanting to play FIFA.”
I deepen the kiss, fingers skimming under the hem of her t-shirt, ready to lose myself in her.
Shouts from the kitchen interrupt the moment. Dom and Elio discussing something and raising their voices.
I flick Rose a glance. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Lifting her feet from my lap, I gently place them on the sofa as I rise.
Rose lowers her legs to the floor. “I’m coming.” She’s still pale, but there’s fire in her veins, stubborn as ever, as she breathes through her nose, rising from the sofa.
I open the kitchen door to find Elio standing there in a tailored black suit, casual as you like. “What’s all the commotion?”
He lifts his phone in greeting instead of his hand. “Call it a leaving gift.”
Rose tugs a cardigan over her chest. “Leaving gift?”
“As much as I’ve loved having your boyfriend and his brother here, I want my house back and if this is what you’re hanging around for, then I’ll gladly move things along.”
A smile curves my lips. “And here I thought we were finally getting on.”
Elio sniggers. “Yeah, like a house on fire.”
Rose rolls her eyes. “They’re family, Elio. Get used to it.”
Elio taps the screen and turns it towards us.
The grainy video shows a container at the docks. Inside, Magnus is chained at the wrists and ankles, slumped against the rusting metal wall like a sack of rubbish. His face is swollen, lip split, suit jacket long gone, shirt filthy. He blinks blearily at the camera.
My jaw tightens. My fingers itch to reach through the screen and snap his miserable neck.
Dom moves closer, peering over my shoulder. “It’s another setup. We can’t trust this fucker.”
“I was working with Riccardo. He’ll confirm everything,” Elio says, voice smooth, almost too smooth. “Your cousin’s keeping him nice and cosy for us.”
“Us?” My brow furrows, wondering what he’s up to? It sounds like he’s finally cooperating, but there’s a part of me that’s still wary, knowing there’s a snake in the grass. “Since when did you work with a Bianchi?” My tone’s flat as the steel in my chest. “Why would you do this?”
Elio's jaw tightens. “You weren’t the only one losing sleep while she was in the hospital.” He hesitates, then runs a hand over his face.
“I can’t undo the past, but I can make damn sure my nephew doesn’t grow up in fear of that bastard.
” His gaze shifts to Rose, and for a fleeting second, there’s no cunning there, just raw human emotion.
“You think I slept easy knowing you nearly died because of the choices I made?”
Dom replays the video and snorts. “Nice and cosy. Looks like shit.”
Elio shrugs, unapologetic. "Prison would've been kinder."
I don’t take my eyes off the video. Magnus shifts, tugging weakly at the chains, muttering something inaudible. “Why now, Elio?” I say low, my voice like gravel. “Why help us now, after you set me up?”
His jaw ticks. “Maybe I’m trying to make things right.”
Dom scoffs, folding his arms tighter. “Yeah? Forgive me if I don’t buy your redemption story.”
Elio’s eyes flash. “I don’t need your forgiveness, Dom.
I don’t even expect hers.” He flicks a glance at Rose.
“But I owe her a fresh start. We can finish this together.” Elio's eyes flick back to me. “You think I don’t hate myself for what I did?” His voice is tight.
“For being my uncle’s puppet after you murdered my…
?” He shakes his head. “The man I thought was my father.” His voice cracks as he looks at Rose.
“For trusting Magnus to take care of my sister?” He runs a hand over his face.
“If I’d have known what he was doing to you—” He shakes his head, eyes darkening.
“I’d have killed him myself all those years ago. ”
I narrow my eyes, studying him. His suit might be sharp, his words even sharper, but trust?
Trust is blunt and broken between us. “It was only six weeks ago you set me up with this man. I don’t trust you not to set me up again,” I say flatly.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t take you at your word.
” I shift my weight. A twinge in my side is a sharp reminder I’m not as indestructible as I used to be.
Elio notices. His eyes flick to the way my hand presses instinctively to my abdomen over the part of me that now keeps Rose alive.
"If I wanted you dead, Bianchi," Elio says, quieter this time, "I’d have killed you already." His gaze hardens with something like respect or guilt. “But you’re here. Still standing. Still protecting her.” He flicks his head to Rose. “And for that, you have my respect. Besides, Mamma would never forgive me if I killed you.” He lets out a small chuckle. “Can you imagine the earache I’d get?”
Rose places a hand on her brother’s arm, as if showing him she trusts him. “Thank you, Elio.”
His hand covers hers. “I would have finished him myself. But I know you wanted to look him in the eye.” He pulls a gun from the holster on his back and hands it to her.
Her fingers curl around the grip, trembling for half a heartbeat before she tightens them, steady as steel.
My spine bristles. I step closer to her as she holds the gun, as if weighing it in her hand.
“Maybe now is a good time to give you those shooting lessons?” Elio says.
My eyes narrow. “She doesn’t need to know how to handle a weapon. I’ll take care of Magnus.” There’s no way in hell Rose is putting herself at risk.
Dom pats me on the shoulder. “With all due respect, brother, it wasn’t so long ago you needed help taking a piss. If anyone’s going to take care of the bastard, it’s me.”
Rose’s breath trembles faintly, just once, but she steadies the gun, squaring her shoulders like she’s ready to carry the weight of this whole family if she has to. I see the fire behind her eyes, the steel beneath the softness. She’s stronger than any of us.
“If anyone is going to finish him, it’s me. I want to see him.” Her eyes close as she takes in a deep breath. “I need to see him.” When she opens her eyes, they land on me. “You promised me, Dan.”
The thought of her facing Magnus, weak as she still is, twists something savage in my chest. I already gave a piece of my liver to save her. Losing her again? I wouldn’t survive it.
My chest caves. I remember I would have promised her anything when she was lying in that hospital bed. But now I’m not sure I can risk her in harm’s way. “It’s too much of a risk. You’re not fully recovered.”
Rose caresses my brow as if she can iron out the wrinkles there. “Neither are you.”
“I don’t like this, Rose. I won’t put you at risk.”
Dom shifts beside me, voice rough. “You’re barely six weeks post-surgery, Rose. This is not your fight.”
Rose lifts her chin. “This is my fight,” she cuts him off, steady.
“It’s always been mine.” She turns back to Dan.
“I trust my brother. If I can learn to trust you, Dan, maybe you can learn to trust him.” Her voice is quiet but strong.
“You’d better not be lying to us, Elio. Because if you are…
” She lifts her chin, regal and fierce like her mother’s, despite her frailty. “You’ll answer to me.”
A flicker of guilt flashes across Elio’s face. Maybe even respect. He dips his head once, solemn. "This is my way of earning back what little honour I have left," Elio says. "And maybe giving us all a clean start."
Dom scratches his jaw, unimpressed. "We’ll see about that."
But I watch Elio, study him the way I used to study men through a sniper scope. And this time? I see no deception. Just a man trying, maybe too late, to do one thing right.
Elio’s expression hardens, like steel tempered in fire. “You think I’d bring this to you if I wanted you dead? I’d have let Magnus finish the job. Believe it or not, D’Angelo, but since I found out how he treated my sister, I want that fucker dead just as much as you do. He disrespected my sister.”
My hand tightens around Rose’s. “Then let’s finish this, together.”