“Well, it worked.” His thumb brushes away my tears. “Though I have to say, your dramatic reading voice needs work.”
“My dramatic reading voice is excellent, thank you very much,” I insist. I’m still crying, but now I’m smiling too. “You’re just a snob.”
“I’m a snob with standards.” His expression softens. “Come here.”
He pulls me back down, and I curl against his side as carefully as I can, mindful of his injuries. We stay like that for a long moment, just breathing together, being alive together.
I want to tell him about the baby. The words are right there, pushing at my throat. But something stops me. Maybe the fear that it’s too much too soon, maybe the need to just savor this moment of having him back.
There will be time. We have time now.
We lie there in comfortable silence until a nurse comes in, gasps when she sees Luca awake, and immediately calls for the doctor. The room fills with medical personnel, dragging me away from him and poking and prodding and asking questions.
Luca tolerates it with surprising patience, answering their questions, following their instructions to squeeze hands and wiggle toes and track a light with his eyes.
“Everything looks good, Mr. Marchetti,” the doctor says, making notes. “You’re going to need several weeks of recovery, and physical therapy for that shoulder. But barring any complications, you should make a full recovery.”
After they leave, I return to my spot at Luca’s side. Danny appears in the doorway, and his face splits into a grin.
“Welcome back, boss. About time you rejoined the living,” comes his wry response.
“Couldn’t let you have all the fun,” Luca says, and his voice is getting stronger. “What’s the status?”
“Romano’s organization has collapsed. Most of his men have scattered—including Rico—or have been absorbed into other families. Viktor’s handling the territorial redistribution.” Danny’s expression turns serious. “And your father-in-law is asking to see you both.”
I feel Luca tense beside me. My father. God, I haven’t even thought about Dad since?—
“H-he’shere?” I ask incredulously.
Danny nods. “He’s been here since we brought you in. No idea how he figured out you were here, but he’s waiting in one of the private rooms downstairs.” Danny looks at Luca. “He wants to face you. Says he’s ready to accept whatever punishment you decide.”
My heart is pounding. I don’t know if I’m ready to see my father at this point. What do I even say to the man whose choices led to all of this? I know I’ve defended him to Luca, but I can still be angry at him.
“Bring him up,” Luca says, and I look at him in surprise, my mouth falling open in an “o.” “Tomorrow,” he clarifies, “when I’m a bit steadier. But yes. It’s time weallhad a conversation.”
The nurses try to move me into my room now that Luca is awake, but I kick up such a fuss that they let me continue to stay in Luca’s room.It’s more comfortable for me, I tell them.It’ll help with my healing and will help me sleep.
Except I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see Luca covered in blood, dying on that warehouse floor. I see Romano’s gun pointed at him. I see the darkness taking him away from me.
“Gigi.” Luca’s voice is soft in the darkness. “Come here.”
How did he?
“I’ll hurt you,” I tell him, remembering how he winced every time he moved or bit back a curse.
He scoffs. “I don’t care. Come here.”
I climb out of my bed and carefully get into his, snuggling against his good side. He wraps his arm around me, holding me close and I can feel the tension leaving my body being so close to him.
“I can hear you thinking,” he murmurs, playing with my hair. “Your mind is so loud it’s keeping me awake.”
Normally, I would have made a snarky comment about that, but I’m too emotional right now. I sniffle.
“Gigi?” He sounds alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
“I almost lost you.” The words come out small and scared. “I almost lost you, and I don’t know how to stop being terrified that it’s going to happen again.”
“It’s not going to happen again.” His cool lips press to my forehead, leaving warmth in its wake. “Romano is dead. The threat is gone. We’re safe now.”
