Chapter 38
Bianca Ferrucci
Blood ran down Tiziano’s arm, the deep red stark against the water streaming from the faucet. My heart raced at the sight of him like that, and I hurried closer, almost forgetting how guarded he was.
“I’m sorry, I forgot you were hurt,” I murmured, remembering that I had squeezed his arm.
“Sorry for what?” he asked calmly.
I grabbed the nearest towel and wrapped it around his arm, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. He let me, sitting on the edge of the bed. Meanwhile, I searched the drawer for the first-aid kit.
“This is going to sting a little,” I warned as I cleaned the cut with gauze soaked in antiseptic.
Tiziano sat there and let me do everything. This closeness was something new; he had been making himself more accessible to me. His hand slid along the side of my body, stopping over my stomach. He caressed it gently as a soft, unexpected kiss landed on the exposed skin.
I instinctively pulled away.
“I’m sorry about that too,” I said, feeling guilty.
“He will come, amore mio. We’ll keep trying.”
I stared at him, trying to decipher him. I had never seen him like this, so vulnerable, so willing to open up.
“I’m an only child, Bianca,” he began, shifting his gaze to the bandage I was wrapping around his arm. “I don’t want that for us. It’s too much responsibility not to have anyone to share it with.”
His eyes were distant, and for a moment, the Don seemed more human than I could have ever imagined. My heart tightened. I didn’t want this life for our children, but I limited myself to asking:
“You don’t like your inheritance?”
He laughed softly.
“I would have made different choices if I could.”
“Like what?” I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“I’ve never stopped to think about it. It’s a way to keep myself focused on what I need to do and not become frustrated over not doing everything I actually wish I could.”
“And what if our children want a different life too?” I asked.
He let out a deep sigh.
“I can give them everything except the choice of a different life. Maybe God still hasn’t given us a child because I need to put an end to that bastard Bellini. I don’t want him focusing his energy on eliminating my heir.”
It was the first time he had spoken so openly to me about Bellini.
“As soon as I kill him...” he began, but I interrupted him.
“Other enemies will appear,” I argued, and he gave me a sharp look.
“But I’ll kill them before they take anything from me.”
“Who were they?” I asked, remembering the ledger in my possession with my name connected to theirs, something he still didn’t know.
His body relaxed, but there was a dark gleam in his eyes.
“A capo who thought he could rise through the ranks and become Don. They came from a powerful family, but they were never worthy. Vittorio Bellini had illegitimate children with servants and never respected his wife. A man like that would never be worthy of leading our organization. He wasn’t even faithful to the vows he made to his wife before God. They were supposed to be one flesh.”
“Illegitimate?” I repeated, feeling something strange tighten in my chest and ignoring the rest of his story about loyalty and being one flesh.
“Yes, several of them scattered around. I’ll kill every last one of them. His bloodline will be wiped from this world. They killed my parents, but I will live a long life, and my bloodline will outlast theirs forever.”
I took a deep breath as I finished bandaging his arm.
“I hope I don’t have to do this again,” I replied, unable to hide the concern in my voice. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
He tilted his head slightly, watching me with that intense gaze that always made me feel vulnerable and protected at the same time.
“If my wife doesn’t like seeing her husband’s blood spilled, then I’ll make sure the only blood that ever bathes me is my enemies’.”
“Is that even possible? Never getting hurt?”
“Injuries are part of the life I chose. But I won’t allow any of it to reach you. Ever,” he said as though he had just sealed a promise.
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to surrender to that moment, but something deep in my heart knew his world was a storm I would never be able to escape.
“And our children?” I asked without thinking.
I felt his body stiffen slightly. He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes.
“Do you believe it’s possible to escape this?” I asked, my voice nearly fading away. “That they won’t come back to me hurt. I just wanted a normal life for them.”
He sighed.
“Normal? No. That word doesn’t exist in our world. But I can give them safety, power, and everything they need so they never have to feel afraid.”
I bit my lip, trying to process his words. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear. It wasn’t what I wanted for our children.
“I’m tired, Bianca. Let’s go to sleep now.”
I hesitated for a moment but decided to ask while he was still willing to talk.
“What about my father’s request?”
Tiziano’s expression changed instantly. He looked at me through narrowed eyes.
“Are you asking me on his behalf?”
“They’re my family...”
“Do you know what irritates me, Bianca?” He leaned slightly forward. “That you lived worse than a dog and still plead on their behalf.”
“What? Who told you?” I asked.
Tiziano remained silent, but the slight lift of one corner of his mouth told me he knew more than I had imagined.
“Let your family find their own solution to their financial problems. I’m not going to help them. I can’t feel mercy for anyone who dared to hurt someone who matters to me.”
I wanted to argue, but the way he was defending my honor disarmed me. For the first time, I felt as though I had someone on my side, someone willing to fight for me.