19. Chapter Nineteen #2
“So I heard.” His cheeky little grin makes me smile in return.
A real, genuine smile. “I love you too. You should know that, Luci. When you were in my arms and I thought you were going to die, all I could think about was how much I didn’t want to lose you.
How there was still so much more for us to talk about. For us to learn about each other.”
“I agree. My father brought me here for my own safety but it was never for me. I know I’m safe with you.
There’s no one else I’d rather be with in a time of crisis.
You fought so hard to save my life. I don’t remember all of it but what I do remember was how hard you kept on fighting for me even with your own injuries. ”
“I made a vow, remember? I promised to protect you. I am a man of my word.”
“I see that. I just want to go home with you.”
“I might have to go back to the hospital,” he admits.
My chest squeezes in panic. “What? Why?”
“I’m still not fully healed. I only left because I needed to see you again. But I need more time for my body to heal. It’s embarrassing. I should be stronger than what Dante did to me. Fuck. Dante. I want to go after him and end his life.”
I cling to Matteo’s hand tighter. “Don’t. Please. I don’t want you to put yourself at risk like that. I don’t want a war.”
“Gabriel wants us to make a peace deal with Dante. Another marriage. An arranged one.”
“Did he say with who?”
“No. But I’m sure he has someone in mind. What do you think of that?”
I shudder. “I don’t want Dante anywhere near me. But if he accepts an offer of peace, it would be better than him trying to kill everyone I care about. But for right now, I don’t want to worry about that. I just want to be with you. I want us to focus on our future.”
He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead and I lean into his touch. Nothing has ever felt this right before. “We can do that. Focus on our future. For now, let’s focus on healing. We both went through so much.” He stumbles as he walks to the car.
“Let me drive,” I say. “Let me help take care of you for once.”
His eyes soften as he gazes down at me. “You put yourself in front of a gun for me. No one has ever done that before.”
“I knew my father wouldn’t shoot me. But even if I was worried about that, I’d do it again. You were completely selfless when you told Dante to hurt you over me. It was time I be selfless too.”
The soft kiss he gives me makes me melt into him. I wish we could stay in this moment forever but I know we can’t.
I remain at Matteo’s side when he returns to the hospital and gets checked in. The nurse scolds him from leaving in the first place.
“You don’t have to sit there,” Matteo says once he’s in a hospital bed with an IV in his arm. I’m firmly planted in the seat beside him.
“I want to be here. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“But you need to rest as well.”
“My infection is completely gone. I feel good. You don’t need to worry.”
His eyes soften. It makes him even more handsome. “I’ll always worry. You know that.”
“I’m glad. It’s nice having someone care for me like this. I love you,” I say again. It just feels right.
“I love you too.”
After a while of sitting in the room and watching TV, Gabriel shows up. “I was told that you had left and came back by the nurse. She wasn’t happy.” His eyes find mine. “Luciana. My father told me you were resting at his house.”
“My father actually kidnapped me and was holding me prisoner. But I assumed he didn’t tell you that. He tried to kill Matteo. Make sure my father stays in line and doesn’t do anything so stupid ever again.”
Gabriel looks stunned. I’ve never spoken to him like this before.
“I’ll… do that. I didn’t know any of that had happened.
Did that all really happen?” he asks Matteo, who nods.
“Shit. Rocco is losing his mind. I promise. I’ll make sure he doesn’t cause problems.” He clears his throat.
“I was thinking more about our Dante situation. I know who’s a good candidate to offer up for marriage. You’ve never met her before.”
“Who?” Matteo asks.
“Sienna Lanza. Her father, Carlo, was a good man. A high ranking mafia official. That should make Dante happy.”
I jump to my feet. “Sienna? You mean my best friend Sienna?”
Gabriel’s face remains ice cold. No shame. No embarrassment. He truly believes this is the best course of action and when he believes something, he will not change his mind. “Yes. Your friend Sienna. I didn’t know you two were best friends though.”
“The best of friends. How could you do this to her? She just lost her father and now you’re going to give her over to that madman? He’ll torture her every day!”
He holds up a hand. “We don’t even know if Dante will agree to a marriage. I have to ask him first. Your friend may get lucky.”
I cross my arms. “And if Dante does agree? Then Sienna is screwed.”
“If a marriage deal brings peace like it did for you and Matteo, then why can’t it happen between Dante and Sienna?
You two worked out. Everything will work out again.
It has to. The only other option is war which puts us all in danger.
Like you said: Dante is a madman. If he’s left to his own devices, he could kill us all.
So I want to put him on a leash. This marriage will allow that.
So I am not sorry, Luciana. These things happen.
” Gabriel gives me and Matteo a nod before leaving the room.
I sink back into my chair as all the fight leaves me. Why do mafia girls have to pay the price for the sins of mafia men?