Chapter 36
GAbrIELA
“When did you have time to do all this?”
Romeo hugs me from behind, tucking my head beneath his chin as I look over my new studio. Everything has already been set up, exactly the way I had it at the penthouse.
“After I wore you out.”
There’s a touch of humor in his voice, because he did, in fact, wear me out. All we’ve done today is nap and have sex. He did bring me some food and made sure I actually ate it. But I haven’t even been out of the wing to check on Abella, and judging by the sky outside, evening has arrived.
“Isn’t the light going to bother you?” I glance at the hallway, noting the shades are no longer drawn.
“I had some time to acclimate.”
It takes me a minute to understand. “The penthouse?”
He nods above me, and I turn into his arms. “You were staying in that locked room the entire time, weren’t you?”
His lip twitches. “Not the entire time.”
“Stalker.” I laugh under my breath.
“Says the woman who agreed to marry me. You know they make Dateline episodes about this kind of thing, Gabi.”
“I know. That’s why I intentionally avoid lighting up any rooms.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s always the people who lit up a room who end up on those shows.”
“Well, in that case, I’m safe,” he muses.
“You can darken my door any time.” I rise onto my toes, and he meets me with a kiss.
Naturally, we get a little carried away with it until he releases my mouth with a sigh.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
“I’m just deciding if I should stay here and do this or tell you that there are people waiting for you.”
“People?”
A dark look flashes in his eyes. “Your family is here. They know Riccardo is missing.”
My stomach churns, and I swallow, fighting off a wave of nausea.
“You don’t have to see them if you don’t want to. I’ll take care of it.”
It’s tempting to take him up on that offer because the thought of confronting them makes me feel sick. But I want to do it myself.
“I’ll see them,” I tell him. “Learning how to roar, remember?”
His eyes soften as he nods. “Then I’ll be there with you. Do you remember what I said?”
“You’ll never let anyone hurt me.” I wrap my arms around him and squeeze.
We stay like that for a few minutes before I gather the courage to go.
“Okay.” I blow out a breath. “I think I’m ready.”
Romeo takes me by the hand, leading me to the living room. When we arrive, the entire Vitale family has already assembled, and a current of tension lingers in the air.
Mom, Michael, and Joey are all here, and they look pissed. I can’t imagine how they’ll make me the scapegoat for Riccardo’s behavior, but I’m sure they’ll find a way.
Michael and Joey both narrow their eyes when they notice Romeo holding my hand, but my mom is the first one to open her mouth.
“Gabriela, we’ve been calling you all day,” she snaps.
“My phone is dead.” I shrug. “I didn’t charge it last night.”
“Then we go to your building and have to find out from the doorman that you’re gone. And apparently, you’re not studying on campus anymore. I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but—”
“You’re coming home with us,” Michael cuts her off. “I have two other prospects lined up, and one of them is willing to marry you this week.”
Romeo slips his arm around my waist, anchoring me to his body and giving me the strength I need.
“No,” I reply, my voice calm but firm.
Michael snorts. “This isn’t a negotiation, kid. You’re coming home, and you can kiss school goodbye.”
“I’m not a kid,” I tell him. “And I’m not sure what part of this is unclear. I’m not coming home, and I’m not quitting school.”
Michael’s gaze slides to Angelo, probably wondering what he can get away with. If he had it his way, he’d drag me out of here by force.
“Now you listen here.” My mom points a shaky finger at me. “We’re your parents, and—”
“You aren’t my anything.” I stare at her, completely empty. “You weren’t a mother to me, and Michael isn’t my father. You may as well be strangers for all the love you’ve shown. I’m done letting you control my life, and for the record, I’m marrying Romeo.”
“Like hell you are,” Michael bites out. “I didn’t agree to that, and it’s up to me.”
He glances at Angelo for backup, but doesn’t get any. Michael’s ego is the most obnoxious thing about him, so I’m not surprised when that wins over logic.
“Alright, that’s it. I’ll carry you out if I have to.”
Before he can even breathe my direction, Romeo’s voice reverberates through the room.
“Come any closer to her, and I’ll lay you out permanently.”
“And he’ll have plenty of help.” Rafe steps forward, followed by Michele and Cristian.
Michael glowers at Angelo. “Are you going to let this fly?”
Angelo cocks his head to the side, a calm but deadly look in his eyes. “Do you really want to make an enemy of me?”
That shuts Michael up. He may be stupid, but even he knows better than to push his luck with the head of the Cosa Nostra.
“If we walk out that door without you, Gabriela, you’re dead to us,” my mother says.
“That works for me.”
She stares at me in disbelief. “You don’t screw over family.”
“This is my family.” I gesture at the Vitales. “And as far as I’m concerned, Martina Moretti is the only mother I ever had.”
She looks like she wants to smack me, but Michael grabs her by the arm before she makes this any worse than it already is.
“Come on, Ang. We’re done with her.”
As Michael drags my mom away, Joey lingers behind. His pea-sized brain seems to be calculating whether or not he could actually take the Vitale brothers.
“I welcome you to try,” Angelo says dryly. “See how that works out for you.”
At that remark, he wisely scuttles off.
Warm lips brush against my ear as I watch them go. “Liberating, isn’t it?”
A shiver moves over me as I nod, letting myself sink into the shelter of Romeo’s body.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, baby,” he murmurs, low enough for only me to hear.
He turns me in his arms and lifts me up, wrapping my legs around him as he captures my mouth in a kiss.
“Whoa.” Rafe chuckles beside us.
“It’s about fucking time,” Michele says.
I tune them out, vaguely aware that everyone is probably watching, but as Romeo tries to haul me off, Abella stops us.
“Hang on a minute, caveman. You can’t keep her holed up in your dungeon for the rest of her life. Especially after you just dropped that engagement news.”
Reluctantly, our lips part, but our gazes stay locked together before someone clears their throat.
“Alright,” Romeo grunts, carrying me over to the sofa and parking me on his lap. “Ask what you need to ask.”
Abella arches a brow at him while Angelo smirks behind her. When she turns her gaze to me, I can tell she’s about to burst at the seams with happiness.
“Are you really getting married?”
Romeo settles a possessive hand on my hip as I nod and show her the ring.
“Wow,” she whispers, coming closer to examine it. “You did good, Romeo.”
“It’s perfect,” I agree.
Her eyes meet mine again, and I can tell she’s trying to hold back tears. “This is all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“See,” Nonna says smugly. “I told you he’s been kissed by the Vitale fate.”
“Yes, I have,” Romeo replies quietly.
“Any idea when the wedding might be?” Abella asks hopefully.
I glance up at Romeo. We haven’t even had time to discuss this, and I’m sure he’s expecting me to say after graduation. But I don’t want to wait.
“What do you think of Christmas break?” I ask him. “I don’t want a big wedding, so we could just have it here on the island.”
He nods his approval, getting harder beneath me, as if that’s even possible. It’s safe to say he likes the idea, and not just because we’re both introverts. More than anything, he wants to know I’m his, forever.
“I can get started on the planning right away,” Valentina pipes up.
I offer her an appreciative smile. Val is used to planning weddings for the Cosa Nostra and The Society.
It was no small miracle what she was able to pull off when she planned Abella’s wedding.
Although Angelo making his surprise entrance as the groom threw that way off course, but it all worked out how it was supposed to.
“I don’t want to go overboard,” I tell her.
“Whatever you want, we’ll make it happen,” she says. “And I’ll handle everything so you can focus on your senior collection.”
“Thank you, Val,” I answer softly. “That would be perfect.”
“Does anyone else have any inane questions they’d like to ask, or can we leave now?” Romeo grunts.
“Someone’s a grouchy motherfucker.” Rafe snorts. “What’s the matter? Getting a little blue over there?”
“Vaffanculo.” Romeo flips his brother off, then promptly picks me up, just in time for Mariella to enter with a disapproving look on her face.
“Romeo, your stitches.” She sighs.
“Fuck the stitches.”
He carries me off, and I wave goodbye over his shoulder, a ridiculously stupid smile on my face.
He might be a caveman…but he’s mine.