My beautiful boy,my heart in human form.
I want to tell him everything. The whole sacred, ugly truth. But I cannot risk curiosity leading him to Giacomo—not when that man could twist the sun into darkness.
So instead, I lower my voice.
“Sometimes life gives us pieces we never expected,” I whisper. “Little mysteries we carry without understanding. But you… you were always the best part of my story. From the moment I held you, I knew you were exactly where you were meant to be.”
His brows draw together, just slightly?—
“What do you mean?”
“You are the one thing I would choose over and over again,” I tell him, voice thickening. “If I had to relive every hardship just to have you again, I would do it without hesitation.”
He swallows once. “I love you, Mama,” he says softly—just like he did as a boy.
My throat tightens, and my heart aches with it.
“I love you more.”
We hold onto each other’s hands tightly. After a while, my son gets up and heads for the door. But he pauses when it opens—and out walks Valerio.
“Uncle Valerio, what are you doing here? Does my father need me?” Daniele shifts instantly, posture straightening, tone sharpened.
Valerio pats his back. “No, my boy. I’m here to see your mother. But I have to say—you just sounded and looked exactly like your father. It was a little scary. Uncanny, even.”
Daniele chuckles. “Well, Iamhis blood. What do you expect?”
“Oh God,” I place my mug down. “Not you too, Valerio. I swear you’re all treating me like I’m made of glass. I don’t need to be checked on 24/7. I’m in my own home; what could possibly get through the fortress my husband built?”
“She’s a little cranky lately,” my son whispers loudly—intentionally—“so mind her claws.”
“You’re not funny, Danny.” I grab a decorative pillow and throw it at him.
He dodges it easily, blows me a kiss, and leaves with a dramatic laugh.
Valerio stands at the doorway, shifting his weight, hands in his pockets. That’s when I notice the stitches on his brow are gone.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes. You’ve been missing in action for a few weeks.” It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the bombing.
He doesn’t show much emotion—he never does—but there’s a tiny wince in his eyes.
“I had some matters I needed to attend to.”
I don’t question it. I know him well enough to understand that guilt has been eating him alive.
“You don’t look like shit today,” I tease, trying to cut through the tension he walked in with. “Did my husband send you to babysit me too?”
He lets out a low huff and shakes his head. “I’m not here to babysit you. I’m actually here to?—”
“If you sayapologize, I will beat you with a stick.” I fix him with a pointed stare. “I told you—you don’t owe anyone an apology here.”
Valerio crosses to the chair Daniele just vacated and sits. “I know,” he says quietly. “But I can’t help the guilt sitting in my chest, Beatrice. I’m a soldier, and I live on orders. I was meant to protect you, and I didn’t. Not once.”
“You didn’t fail,”I say, reaching over and placing my hand over his. “I’m alive because you didn’t hesitate. If you hadn’t thrown yourself over me, that glass would’ve cut deep. I don’t want you to keep blaming yourself for this.”
He shakes his head, though he doesn’t pull his hand from mine. “There’s a part of me that always will. It’s a mark I have to carry. You’ve come far too close to danger on my watch.” His voice drops, low and rough. “You’re… too important to be held so carelessly.”
“Valerio, you and I both know you’ve never held me carelessly,” I tell him softly. “If anything, you hold me tighterthan my son and husband do. Your job is to serve and protect—and you do that every single day. Don’t let that man make you doubt yourself. You did everything right. So stop moping and go back to your normal brooding self.”
