Neither of us spoke. He kept walking, taking me exactly where I belonged, back to his room. Once inside, he sat down on the bed, still cradling me in his arms.
His hands moved slowly up and down my back in a rhythm that soothed something raw inside me. This tenderness, frommymoody, brooding, brutal Carlo, felt almost unreal. And yet, so completely right.
I smiled, real and warm, and let myself sink into his embrace. We didn’t need words. We just... held each other. Recharging. Breathing.
Eventually, I lifted my head and looked at him. His expression was calm, but serious. There were bruises and cuts on his face, some fresh, some fading.
My heart ached. I leaned in, pressing a kiss to each mark. Then another to each eyelid, my voice a soft whisper. “Thank you for staying alive. Thank you for coming back to me.”
He cupped my face with both hands, his touch firm but reverent, his voice barely more than a breath. “Are you here to stay? Are you here to forgive me?”
His chest rose and fell with a sharp inhale, almost like he was afraid to hear the answer. “Say yes,” he whispered.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Oh, Don Carlo. You might be a genius strategist and a mastermind in war, but when it comes to love, you’re a clueless fool.”
His brows pulled together, confusion flickering in his eyes. “So... is that a yes?”
I stared into his restless gaze, a mischievous smile curling at my lips. My answer was teasing him by letting the silence hang between us. His eyes narrowed, clearly annoyed, and with a growl, he snapped, “You know what? Doesn’t matter. I’m the Capo, and I command you. You’re mine.”
His mouth claimed mine in a kiss, soft but completely possessive. When he pulled back, his voice was low, a playful edge lacing every word. “I’m not letting you go anywhere. I’m keeping you locked up right here.”
I laughed again. Thank God. He was back to factory settings.
Smiling, I leaned in and kissed him again, this time taking the lead. My lips brushed along his cheek before I nibbled gently on his earlobe, my voice dropping to a sultry whisper.
“You know, I disobeyed your orders tonight. I heard you told everyone not to touch you. But not only did I touch you… I kissed you too.”
Lifting my head, I slid my hand down, fingers curling around his hardness. He let out a guttural breath. My tone turned wicked, full of challenge. “So, Don Carlo… what are you going to do about all this disobedience?”
He didn’t answer, not with words. Instead, he lifted me gently and laid me back on the bed, his lips crashing into mine again. The tenderness in his touch, so different from his usual roughness, sent a thrill racing through me.
His breathing grew heavier with each second, but then he paused to slightly pull back. His voice was husky, thick with restraint, but edged with care. “I don’t want to hurt you. Are you sure you want this?”
My eyes welled with tears, and one slipped silently down my cheek. I ran my fingers through his hair and cradled his face between my hands.
“I thought I’d lost you forever, Carlo,” I whispered. “That fear was worse, deeper, more unbearable than anything I’ve ever felt. Even worse than that night.”
He pressed his forehead to mine, his voice low and tender. “I know ,baby. I felt it too.”
“Is that why you didn’t say goodbye before you left?” I asked softly. “You thought I didn’t want you anymore?”
He gave a small nod. I smacked him lightly on the head, making him blink in surprise. Locking eyes with him, I said firmly, “Don’t you ever make decisions for me again.”
Before he could speak, I leaned in and kissed his lower lip. “Promise me you’ll never leave without saying goodbye again. Especially not for a battlefield.”
He kissed the tip of my nose, the bullying edge back in his voice. “You’ll never have to worry about me leaving you again. Not even in your dreams.”
I gazed into his eyes, consumed by the flood of emotions I held for him. “I thought I’d never get the chance to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“How much I love you,” I confessed.
His eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face. “You do?”
I blinked slowly, my voice steady and sure. “I do. I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you. So much that the thought of losing you, of you not being there drove me crazy.”
His eyes lit up with a rare spark of joy, and for a moment, he wasn’t the feared Don Carlo, just a man who’d finally won the love of a woman. His face softened, making him look years younger. He kissed both my cheeks, his lips warm and soft against my skin. “I love you too, Emily. I love you so much.”
