CHAPTER XLVII
“ B ellissima,” my father murmured as he stood unblinking.
His knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor. “You’re alive.” His voice cracked, tears streaming down his face. “How can this be?”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand at witnessing a mafia king break apart for the woman he loved. The woman he thought was dead. The sight of him, so vulnerable, left me breathless.
“Al—” Mom’s voice caught in her throat, as if too shocked to continue.
My father released a heart-wrenching cry that I felt in my soul.
Suddenly, Mom was sprinting toward him, throwing herself into his open arms. He caught her effortlessly, wrapping her in a fierce embrace, burying his face in the crook of her neck, whispering words in Italian while he cried.
As they pulled apart, he cradled her face in his hands, gazing into her eyes.
A smile broke free from his lips. “It’s really you,” he breathed.
Mom let out a soft, watery laugh. “Yes, it’s really me. And it’s really you,” she replied, placing her hand on one side of his face, her thumb brushing away his tears. His gaze never left hers.
“Oh, how much I missed you all these years. Not a day went by that I didn’t think of you. I love you so much,” she cried.
He exhaled a shaky breath. “Ti amo, mia bellissima.” Still holding her face, he leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss.
I turned away, feeling a swell of emotion in my chest, my gaze falling on Valarie, who stood frozen.
“Valarie?” I called softly, pulling my parents apart from their passionate reunion.
“Oh, Valarie,” Mom cried out and pulled away from Dad, even though he held her a heartbeat longer.
Mom approached Valarie, her arms open wide, and my aunt threw herself into my mother’s embrace, sobs wracking her body. “Oh, my god,” she cried, her shoulders shaking violently.
My father’s face lit up like fireworks as he walked toward me. He enveloped me in a hug and held me as if it was grounding him. “I have my family,” he said.
Family.
A promise of new beginnings and a hopeful future.
NICO
After Lo fell asleep and Luca and Matteo finally left me alone, I left the room to go see my girl.
Gripping the handrails, I dragged my battered body down the corridor, my IV pole trailing behind me like an anchor. As I passed the nurse’s station, I cursed under my breath. A nurse with vibrant, rainbow-streaked hair glanced up from her desk, an immediate frown marring her face.
“Mr. Moretti, you shouldn’t be out of bed,” she admonished.
“I’m fine,” I shot back, clenching my jaw.
She closed the chart she was looking over and stepped around the desk, now just inches away from me.
“Are you going to move, or do I have to do it for you?” I said calmly.
She planted her hands firmly on her hips. “Threaten me all you want, Mr. Moretti, but you need to go back to bed.”
I gotta hand it to Rainbow Bright for having the balls to talk to me like she’s scolding a child. If it was anyone else, they wouldn't have a tongue.
My feet drove me onward until I was standing face-to-face with her.
My lips curled upward. “I’m going to see my girl, and no one, not even you, is going to stop me. I suggest you get the hell out of my way before you learn the hard way.”
“Nico, for fuck’s sake,” Dante sighed, appearing out of nowhere.
“Came to check on me? I’m touched,” I said, placing my hand dramatically on my chest.
Malik shook his head, but the ghost of a smile danced on his lips.
“I’ve got it from here,” Dante said with an authoritative nod as he focused on the nurse.
“I’m sorry, but he?—”
“Lady,” Malik drawled. “Do yourself a favor and pretend you didn’t see anything. Trust me, you don’t want to deal with his grumpy ass.”
“Let’s go.” Dante led the way to the elevator while the nurse threw her hands up in defeat.
“Do you really think threatening the nurse is smart?” Dante asked once the elevator doors slid shut.
“I’ll threaten anyone who gets in the way of me and my girl.”
The atmosphere in the crowded elevator was suffocating, my skin prickling with a desperate need to be by Gigi's side.
When the doors opened, I surged forward, the guys trailing closely behind until we reached her room.
I glanced back at the guys. “Let me go in first. I need some alone time with her.”
Dante and Malik nodded.
After tapping on the door, I pushed it open without waiting for a response. The moment I stepped inside, I noticed a beautiful woman resembling Gigi was perched on Alphonse’s lap while Valarie lounged beside Gigi on the bed.
“Nico?” Gigi’s face lit up. Relief washed over me as I saw color had returned to her skin.
“Baby,” I breathed, limping further into the room, dragging my IV pole along.
Valarie rose from the bed and wrapped her arms around my arm, giving me a glowing smile. “Thank you for saving my niece,” she said, tears glistening in her eyes.
I offered her a curt nod, my focus slipping back to my angel. I navigated around Valarie and eased myself onto the edge of the bed, a grunt escaping my lips as pain shot through me.
“Nico,” Gigi said softly, concern etching her features. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. I was going to come see you.” She cupped my cheek, and I closed my eyes, soaking up the warmth of her touch.
“Needed to see you,” I said, opening my eyes to look into the enchanting depths of her amber eyes.
Lifting her hand, I kissed each finger gently without a care for our small audience.
“I want you to meet someone,” she announced.
I pressed one last kiss to her palm, heart swelling. “Nico,” Gigi began, “this is my mother, Angelica.”
My mind raced as I processed her words, stunned. “Your mother?”
She nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Yes. She’s alive.”
I stole a glance at the woman in Alphonse’s embrace, who held her possessively, as though she might vanish if he let go.
I knew that feeling all too well.
Angelica gracefully rose from Alphonse’s lap and approached me. As she reached my side, she wrapped her arms around my neck in a hug that felt both warm and protective.
“Thank you so much for saving my baby,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for bringing her back to us.”
“Always,” I promised, returning her embrace. Thoughts of my own mother flickered in my mind. I pulled away before my emotions took control.
“So, you’re the famous Nico,” she said, a grin breaking across her face.
I chuckled, swiping a hand down my face, catching Gigi’s blush.
“Yeah, I suppose I am,” I admitted.
“Nico,” Alphonse called out, his deep voice drew my attention.
He threw an arm around Angelica and extended his hand to me. I gripped it firmly.
“I owe you my life for saving my daughter. That is a vow.”
“I’d do anything for her,” I assured him, meeting his earnest gaze.
He nodded, a satisfied smile accompanying his words. “And that is what makes you a good man. A king. I have no doubt you’ll always protect her.”
I reluctantly released his hand and turned my gaze toward the entrance when there was a knock at the door. Dante and Malik strode in.
“Okay, we couldn’t wait any?—”
“Angelica?” Malik’s voice rang out with a slight tremble.
“Malik.” Her voice was all but a whisper.
In a heartbeat, Malik rushed forward, sweeping her off the ground into a tight embrace, his laughter mingling with tears. “Oh, fucking hell. You’re alive! I’m so sorry for not protecting you,” he whispered the last words.
“Set her down, asshole,” Alphonse grumbled.
Laughter erupted around us as Malik placed her on her feet. Dante stepped up next, pulling her into a tight, desperate hug.
“Oh, my god, Dante.” Angelica’s voice quivered. “You’re alive? I thought my father had...
They held each other as Angelica’s body shook with grief.
“I’m so sorry, Dante,” she cried softly into his shoulder.
“Shh,” he murmured. “You have nothing to apologize for. I would do it all over again for you. I’m so sorry about your mother. I’m so sorry."
When they finally pulled apart, Dante’s eyes glistened with tears as he locked his gaze on her. “How is this even possible?” he asked.
“It’s a long story,” she said, keeping her hands on his shoulders.
“And I promise, I’ll fill you in on all the details.
But not today.” She scanned the room, her eyes lingering on each face before landing on Gigi.
“Today is about celebrating what we’ve lost, for what we’ve found,” she said, turning back to me with a bright smile. “And for what we’ve gained.”
I couldn’t help but return her smile.
Angelica turned back to Dante. “I heard you have a son.”
His whole face lit up at the mention of his son. “Yes, I do. His name is Liam.”
She brushed away her remaining tears, a sparkle in her eyes. “Tell me all about him. I want to know everything about your life, Dante.”
They reminisced about the past. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Yet I found myself tuning them out, my attention fully captivated by Gigi. I settled beside her, ignoring the ache in my body, completely lost in her presence.
“You okay?” I asked softly, wrapping my arms around her shoulder and pulling her close.
She looked up at me, her smile radiant, and said, “Yeah, I am.” She rested her hand over my heart, and I covered it with my own.
I captured her lips in a gentle kiss, no tongues, just a lingering connection that spoke volumes of the love I held for her, the kind that would endure until my last breath.
She was the angel sent from heaven, my sweetest temptation who craved the darkness, and I was the devil born seeking peace amidst the chaos. My true obsession was the peace I had been searching for all along.