Epilogue
Andrea
“What do you girls think?”My mouth circled into an O shape to take in a breath as I spun for the girls who were gawking at me on camera.
Gina squealed.
“You look like you are ready to go get your man.”Julie grinned.
“What if he doesn’t want me back?It’s been four months.”I was freaking out, and I had a very good reason to.
After Sofia’s demonic confession at her wedding reception, I couldn’t face my family, so I left.Luciano let me cry it out in his arms that night.I wanted to get away from everything, so I returned to Sicily at the crack of dawn.I abandoned the man I loved.He never reached out to me afterwards, so that convinced me that I was fighting a lost battle.
“He loves you, baby girl.”Gina smiled encouragingly at me.
“But I broke his heart,” I whined.
“You weren’t ready then,” Julie said softly.
“You are now,” Gina buttressed.
I slowly nodded, flashing them a smile.“All right ladies, wish me luck.”
“Love you,” they both chorused and hung up.
I looked like a fiery, seductive dream wrapped in a silky red backless dress, hair wrapped in a low, neat bun, paired with bold red lipstick.I should feel confident, but all I felt was anxiety that made me want to lose my mind.I exhaled, stacking my essentials into my purse, then I left my room.
Papa reached out to me after everything, and the conversation we had was probably the most honest conversation I’d had with him in a long time.It was a relief that he understood why I did what I did.But of course, Lillian was a bitch about it as usual.She raved like a typical madwoman, but she didn’t realize that her daughter liberated me with what she did.That was what made Sofia scornful.She expected me to crash out after what she did, but I didn’t.Instead, I found redemption, and possibly, I’d get the love of my life back.
Luciano was the love of my life.It was sad that I couldn’t see that until now.He didn’t love me because I was perfect.He loved me because I wasn’t.He brought me so much happiness and comfort, and he had my back when I was trying to get him not to.He was the anchor I never knew I needed until I lost him.
And now, I was going to get him back.
The ride to Skull’s Lounge was short.I found out a few weeks back that he actually owned it—while I was stalking him, of course.I pulled over in the lot and found my way into the space.I was attacked with nostalgia and memories of the first time we met.It brought a sad smile to my face.
There was a grumpy guard at the entrance of the secluded hallway when I got there.
“Hi, good evening.”He didn’t flinch.“Is Luciano in?I’m his fiancée.”I maintained a soft smile.
He glanced at me, grunted, then turned around and led me through the hallway.I saw that we passed through his suite, so I knew he was taking me elsewhere.He stopped before a black door, then left me all alone.
“You can do this.”I breathed in and out, then knocked.
“Come in.”
I sucked in a sharp breath when I heard his voice.I hadn’t heard him in months.It was like every part of me was coming alive.I turned the knob and walked in with a pounding heart.
The room smelled of smoke, leather, and something animalistically his.I glanced around, and when my eyes connected with those blue ones I loved so much, I stopped breathing.
