She watches me and begins to breathe in time with me.
"It was only a nightmare, okay? Ronan wasn't at the apartment. I'm not hurt."
"He shot you right in front of me," she whispers.
"No, he didn't. My heart is still beating." I place her hand on my chest over my heart. "My lungs are still breathing." I move her hand to my mouth and blow on her fingers. Turn her hand over to kiss her palm gently. "My skin is still warm."
Her hands cup my face. She stares at me.
Her eyes glisten as they jump back and forth between mine. "I can't lose you when I've only just found you."
The sincerity in her voice makes me swallow hard.
I pull her in for a kiss. Press my lips tightly to hers. Want her to feel the emotion behind it.
She kisses me back and wraps her arms around my neck. The kiss isn't feral or passionate. It's emotional. Raw.
She breaks the kiss and places small pecks on my lips. The corner of my mouth. My cheek. Then she wraps me in another tight hug.
We stand like that for minutes until I feel her relax.
I walk her over to the bed and get her tucked in. Lie down next to her. She cuddles into me.
In minutes, she's asleep.
I hold her and try not to think about leaving her tomorrow. Try not to think about how much I hate the idea of Dante and Luca protecting her instead of me.
CHAPTER 31
Elena
I wakeup to a knock on the bedroom door. For a moment, I'm disoriented—this isn't my room. Then I remember. The attack. The escape. Marco bringing me here to Vito's penthouse.
I look next to me. No Marco. He must have left after I fell back asleep.
The door opens and both Gianna and Rina step in. Rina's smile is warm but there's concern in her eyes.
"Room for two more?" she asks.
I pull the blankets back and they both climb in beside me. Gianna on one side, Rina on the other.
We talk for a while about nothing in particular. Gianna tells me about classes and about what she wants to take next semester. But I can tell something else is on Gianna's mind. She keeps fidgeting with the blanket.
"What did you really want to talk to me about, G?" I ask.
Her eyes fill with tears. "I overheard Vito and Marco talking about what happened to you last night. Are you okay? What happened?"
Shit. She was never meant to hear any of that. She's not made for the mafia life. She wants out and nothing to do with it, and I don't blame her.
I pull her to me and hug her. "You were never supposed to hear any of that. I'm so sorry it scared you."
"Are you okay?" she asks again through tears.
"I'm okay, G." But she doesn't believe me, giving me a questioning look while wiping tears from her cheeks. "Really, I am. It was scary, but Marco protected me, and we got out of there safely."
My face feels hot at the mention of Marco.
Gianna notices and frowns. "Why did your face get all flushed? Is there something going on between you and Marco?"
