Chapter 29
twenty-nine
The drive back to Grovewood is silent, both of us lost in our thoughts as we process the events of the day. I can’t stop touching her, my palm grazing her thigh, my thumb caressing the soft skin on the back of her hand.
“I’m sorry about your parents,” I speak into the silence, and she just stares out the window.
“I’m not.” She replies, not bothering to look my way but not letting my hand go either. “They deserved everything they got.”
“I don’t want this life to turn you into someone like me. Someone cold.” I tell her, worried it may already be too late.
She looks at me for several long moments, and I glance between her and the road, doing my best to keep us on course. A small smile lifts the corner of her mouth, and I could melt into it.
“You keep me safe, I’ll keep you warm. Deal?” She replies, and I laugh.
“Of course, Bambina. Keep me warm. For all the days of our lives.” I tell her, kissing the back of her hand as I pull into the long driveway at Breaker and Rory’s home.
“How the hell did Enzo get here so quickly?” She asks, and I scoff.
“Would you believe he was already on the way? He caught word of what Luca had planned and was on the first flight to us. He barely arrived in time to prevent an all out massacre.
Their compound sits on acre after acre of beautiful low-country, their home nestled in the middle of it.
Breaker’s security is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, completely airtight.
I’ve been trying to recruit him for years, even though I know he has no desire to work for the kind of enterprise I lead.
So I will be happy with what I can get, accepting his help as often as he’s comfortable offering it.
Rory stands at the front door, a nervous look on her face. Several cars are parked haphazardly in the circle driveway, and I hope Enzo has beaten us here with Vanessa’s sister.
She rushes to Vanessa’s door, pulling it open and wrapping her in a hug so tight in not sure she can breathe.
But Vanessa doesn’t complain, she squeezes her back just as tightly.
I give them both their reunion, meeting Enzo on the front steps.
His expression is grave, and my fear for Matteo grows exponentially.
Bracing myself to hear the worst, I gesture for him to go ahead.
“Matteo is stabilized. That doctor patched him up really well. He’s going to have many scars, but he will survive this.
Vanessa’s sister is in surgery now. Most of the wounds to her face were superficial, just requiring simple stitching.
But the injuries to her torso were far more severe.
Boss, I’ve seen torture before. Hell, I’ve inflicted beatings like that myself.
But for that to come from her own parents?
Her spleen was ruptured. It was horrible.
” Enzo says, shaking his head. “On the other hand, it’s very convenient that Breaker’s compound is equipped with medical facilities that rival our own. Surprising, but useful.”
“I would like to speak with this doctor. Hear for myself about the updates on Matteo’s condition. I’m sure Vanessa will feel the same way about Aria. Shall we?” I suggest, reaching for Vanessa’s hand.
“I have something I really think you’re gonna want to see,” Rory smiles a mischievous smile, and I quirk a brow at her.
She leads us inside, not bothering to stop in the living room where an older woman bearing a striking resemblance to her holds her son on the couch.
I’m always so surprised by how normal they all find it when a group of mafia soldiers come marching through their living room, and they don’t ask any questions.
“Break is in the basement as usual, and Tate is in the medical building next door. She hasn’t sent word about your sister,” Rory says quietly.
Vanessa’s face falls slightly, but I squeeze her against me.
“But I promise you, Tate is the best surgeon we know. If there were anyone I wanted working on someone I love, it would be Sanaa. Aria is in the best hands. Matteo is recovering in the guest room if you want to see him. But I think there’s someone who may want to see you first.”
“Who else could possibly be more important?” I ask her, confused about who else she could be referring to.
A jingling sound echoes down the hallway, and Vanessa’s eyes snap up, a gasp caught in her throat.
“Son of a bitch, you’re kidding?!” I say, a smile breaking through for the first time today.
“Doug?!?” Vanessa squeals, dropping to the floor as he comes lumbering towards her.
He tackles her with his entire body weight as they both collapse to the ground. As he whines in excitement, she buries her face in his fur, sobbing and holding him closely.
“The prodigal son returns, huh? How the hell did you find him?” I ask, and Rory laughs.
“He actually found us. I brought Matteo back here to meet the doc, and you’ll never guess who was sprawled on the deck next to the pool, panting and waiting to be let inside. He found his way to a safe haven, I suppose,” Rory replies, and I’m dumbfounded.
“I thought I’d never see you again, my boy! I thought I’d lost you forever!” Vanessa cried, hugging his neck as he leans into her. “I promise I’ll never let anything happen to you ever again, Dougy.”
“Thank you, Aurora. We appreciate everything you’ve done, you and Breaker both. I am in your debt.” I tell her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“No, you aren’t, Seb. This is a family. You are our family, whether you like it or not.” She replies.
Shouting echoes from down the hall, Matteo’s voice instantly recognizable. It sounds as though he’s arguing with someone.
“You’re gonna have to say something to him, He’s been less than compliant.” Rory says, rolling her eyes.
“I’ll see what I can do.” I laugh, stepping past the girls and walking back towards his room.
“Take me home, I want to get out of here! She’s a masochist, I swear to God! Get me the fuck out of here on the next fucking flight! I can’t be here anymore!” Matteo shouts as I make my way into his room, leaning against the door frame.
Two of my men stand guard around his bed as he tries to remove his IV from the side of his body that isn’t charred.
His chest and right arm have been treated, cleaned, and wrapped in new bandages.
I’m sure that was no walk in the park. Hopefully, the doctor gave him a decent amount of painkillers for that procedure.
“What are you screaming about in here? You’re going to scare the women and children.” I say, as calmly as possible. His eyes snap to the door, finding mine instantly.
“Oh, now you come back? After you’ve had all the fun?” He snaps, sarcasm lacing his tone. He’s in pain, I can tell.
“Who is a masochist? Huh, what is all this you’re yelling about?” I ask, and he shifts in the bed, scooting back and sitting up.
“That doctor. I swear to God, she’s trying to kill me. She scrubbed half my fucking skin off. I felt every fucking second of it, too. And did she apologize? Not even once. Bitch.” He looks away, annoyed as hell with this doctor.
“Ah, so she’s a woman, huh? That part I didn’t know.” I smirk, and he rolls his eyes. “She sounds very good at her job. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“I’d rather you just put a fucking bullet between my eyes now. It would definitely hurt less.” He replies.
“If I can be honest, I am grateful to her. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if your time on this Earth had been through.
At the risk of sounding like I’m cheating on my woman, I love you, Matteo.
You are indispensable to me. I will do all I can to ensure your recovery is as smooth and painless as possible.
You’ve already given so much for Fortuna, it’s about time you get something back for your trouble.
” I tell him, and he looks out the window, thinking over all I’m saying.
“I’ve never felt like I’ve given up anything to be in Fortuna Nera.
This is my destiny. I chose this, and I have no regrets.
I don’t want you thinking I feel like I’m owed anything for my service to the family.
I will always be grateful for this life I’ve been given.
Just maybe not tonight after that devil woman is done torturing me for her pleasure.
Doctor, my ass. She enjoys inflicting pain, I swear to God,” Matteo says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“I really can’t wait to meet this woman.” I reply and he sings heavily.
“Must be talking about me,” someone says, walking into the room behind us.
A petite woman with beautiful bronze skin stands at the foot of Matteo’s bed. Her curly brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and her navy blue scrubs are stained with blood. She checks his IV lines, making sure nothing is kinked before hanging another bag and checking his pulse.
“Hello, Satan. Come to put me back on your torture table?” Matteo asks, and I snort out a laugh. Ridiculous.
“Very dramatic, Mr. Gallo. I’ve asked you numerous times if you want the pain medication.
Unfortunately, some of the pain I can’t prevent.
That’s the nature of severe burns. But I can take the edge off if you want to go to sleep.
Maybe when you wake up, you’ll be halfway to Italy. ” She shrugs, and I nod.
“She’s right. You should take the deal. I can have you on a plane as soon as she gives me the green light, Teo. You can recover at home.” I add, and he seems to be thinking it over.
He waits several moments before finally nodding.
She draws up some kind of medicine in a vial from the side table, pushing it into his IV slowly.
He winces for a moment before relaxing a little more, his head bobbing to one side as sleep pulls him under.
Morphine is hard to fight in such a high dose.
“He’ll be more comfortable now. As long as you keep the dressings clean and changed regularly, he’s safe to transport whenever you’re ready to go home.
The girl will unfortunately take much longer to heal.
I think it’s going to be a few weeks before she’s fit to travel anywhere.
But she’ll be okay in the long term.” Sanaa says, and I feel the most relief I’ve felt in days.
“Thank you. I don’t know how I can possibly repay you for your service today, doctor.” I tell her.
“Don’t you know that’s not how it works around here? We don’t work in favors. It’s just what we do. I’m glad I could help today. Maybe one day I’ll need help and you’ll be able to provide it,” she holds out her hand, and I shake it gently.
“Anything I can do, just say the word.” I reply, leaving the room to find Vanessa.
She sits on the back porch, Doug sprawled at her feet, Rory by her side as they both smile.
All I want is to spend the rest of my life keeping that smile on her face as often as I possibly can.
If I’m honest, I don’t want to spend another second longer than I have to apart from her.
Even now, though I’m only feet away, I can feel the pull to her.
Something is dragging my soul to hers, and I won’t deny it, won’t fight the feeling.
“Surprising, isn’t it?” Breaker comes from somewhere behind me, standing shoulder to shoulder as we watch the women through the back window.
“To what do you refer?” I ask, knowing he’s going to give me some nugget of wisdom. He always does. Though he and I are very close in age, his knowledge of relationships far outweighs mine.
“How quickly she becomes the axis everything else revolves around,” he smirks, and I can’t deny the truth he’s speaking.
“It was quite unexpected, yes.” I reply, thinking back to the first day she threw coffee in my face and called me a fucking bastard.
“Not to me. I saw this coming from the moment you two met.” He claps me on the shoulder with a laugh, walking out onto the patio to join his wife.
Wife.
It almost seems small compared to my love for Vanessa.
Not that I take the term lightly. It would be the highest honor I could ever impose on another person.
Hell, I know I’d be honored to be her husband.
It just seems so much smaller in comparison to the magnitude of our souls, long searching for their match in one another, finally finding peace.
She is my home, my solace, my sanctuary from life’s atrocities I so often must face.
She keeps me centered when I stray too far from myself, something no one else has ever been able to do before her.
Following Breaker out into the cool afternoon air, I find myself taken aback by her beauty.
Her face is marred by bruises, and I'm glad Luca paid with his life today.
I wish I could bring him back and kill him slower for laying a finger on my woman.
But she is still a vision of strength and elegance.
“Can we be done fighting dragons today? I need a nap,” Vanessa says, reaching for me. I take her hand without hesitation, stopping behind her chair to drop a kiss on top of her head.
“Of course, Bambina. We can rest. And when we wake, it will be a new day for us, and a new chapter for Fortuna Nera. It’s been a long time since they’ve had a queen, but I think it will be a welcome change.
” I smile down at her, and she looks panicked for only a moment before that familiar resolve overtakes her features.
There is nothing we cannot do together. I will spend my life building this empire, and she will rule by my side, the perfect confidante and partner.
My lips collide with hers in a kiss that will echo through my bones for the rest of my life.
I pay no attention to the audience around us, this moment is only ours.
“I have faced death and walked away. But you? You undo me completely, Vanessa. You are the most breathtaking thing I have ever had the privilege of surviving for.”