CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Deangelo
The Confession
When Dr. Carver told us Ginny was awake, I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest.
Luca started to stand, but I was faster. "Let me go first," I said.
He looked at me for a long moment, then nodded. "Five minutes. Then I'm coming in."
I didn't waste time arguing. I just walked to her room and pushed open the door.
And there she was. Awake. Alive. Looking at me with those beautiful eyes I'd been dreaming about for years.
"Deangelo," she whispered.
I crossed the room in three strides and dropped to my knees beside her bed. "Ginny. Jesus, Ginny, I thought—" My voice broke. "I thought I'd lost you."
"I'm okay," she said, but her voice was weak. "I'm okay."
"You're not okay. You almost died." I took her hand carefully, mindful of the IV. "Someone tried to kill you, and you almost died, and I—"
"Deangelo." She squeezed my hand. "I'm here. I'm alive."
"Because you're strong. Because you're a fighter." I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles. "But I can't do this anymore, Ginny. I can't keep pretending."
"Pretending what?"
"That I don't love you." The words came out in a rush. "I've been in love with you since we were kids. Since before I even knew what love was. And when Luca told me he was arranging for you to marry me, I thought—I thought it was a dream come true."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"You didn't know." I laughed bitterly. "Of course you didn't know.
Luca was going to tell you, but you ran away before he got the chance.
You married Henrik because you thought Luca was trying to control you.
But he wasn't, Ginny. He was trying to give you to me.
Because he knew I'd love you. He knew I'd take care of you. "
Tears were streaming down her face now. "I didn't know. I didn't—Deangelo, I'm so sorry. I wanted it to be you, so badly I wanted it to be you. But if it was I didn’t you to marry because you had to, I couldn’t do that to you, to us. And I couldn’t marry someone else and watch you move on, get married and live happily. I sorry, I couldn’t. I am so so sorry."
"Don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for.
" I reached up and gently wiped her tears away.
"You made the choice you thought was right.
And I respect that. But now—now I need you to know the truth.
I love you. I've always loved you. And if you'll give me a chance—just one chance—I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you. "
"Deangelo," she whispered. "I don't deserve—"
"You deserve everything. You deserve to be loved and cherished and protected. You deserve someone who sees you, really sees you, and loves every part of you." I leaned closer. "Let me be that person, Ginny. Please."
She was crying harder now, but she was also smiling. "I was in love with you too. I wrote about it in my journal. About how I'd made a mistake. About how I should have stayed. I should have fought for it to be you. To at least tell you how I felt. I wanted to be with you. I wanted to stay."
"Then stay now. Stay with me."
"I'm still married to Henrik."
"Not for long. Luca's already got the divorce papers drawn up. You just have to sign them."
She laughed through her tears. "Of course he does."
"So what do you say?" I asked. "Will you give me a chance?"
She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. Then she nodded. "Yes. Yes, Deangelo. I'll give you a chance."
I couldn't help myself. I leaned forward and kissed her, gentle and careful, mindful of her injuries. She kissed me back, her lips soft and warm against mine. It was everything I ever dreamed it could be.
When I pulled away, she was smiling. Really smiling.
"I love you, Ginevra" I said.
"I love you too," she whispered.
And for the first time in five days, I felt like I could breathe again.