“Ti amo,” Sebastian says, and I remember the exact moment I heard those words from his lips for the first time.
“Anima mia,” I reply, and he smirks that familiar smirk.
“What the fuck are you two talking about?” Luca says, jerking me back against his body.
“Vanessa, do me a favor?” Sebastian says, and my heart pounds in my chest.
“You’re not calling any shots here, fucker!” Luca snaps back, releasing me and leveling his gun on Sebastian.
“Duck,” he says, and before my mind can catch up with what he’s asking, my body is already obeying.
I hit the ground in front of Luca and shots ring out again, the men behind us dropping one by one. The front door bursts open behind Sebastian, and I’m shocked beyond belief to see Enzo charging in behind Sebastian, an army of men at his back as they open fire throughout the space. I crawl towards Aria, covering her with my body to protect her from the bullets flying through the air as I try to loosen her restraints.
“What are you doing? You’re ruining everything!” My father says, rearing back to punch me. Before he can, a loud shot echoes through the space and his body lurches forward, blood staining his shirt as his body quickly slumps forward. My mother screams, throwing herself on top of him as he bleeds out, the life draining from his eyes. I don’t spare him a single second moreof my time or energy. Instead, I focus all my attention on getting my sister out of the middle of this chaos.
Luca lunges for Sebastian, knocking his gun from his hand. Sebastian punches him in the jaw, Luca’s head jerking back violently. Seb pulls his knife from its sheath, slicing through the air at Luca as he jumps back. Enzo and the other men make quick work of rounding up all of Luca’s men, killing those who wouldn’t surrender and detaining the rest. We all watch this fight to the death unfold, knowing there is no other outcome but to let Sebastian end this uprising for good.
Luca dodges to the right, attempting to punch Sebastian low in the ribs, but Seb is so much quicker than him. He ducks lower, grabbing Luca by the throat and twisting him around until he’s completely immobile.
“This family, this empire, belongs to me. You reached for what was never yours to take. Family is the one thing worth protecting. But you forgot that, Luca. I warned you it would be your demise. You should have listened.” Sebastian draws his blade across Luca’s throat, blood pouring down his shirt as his body falls to the floor.
Finally, this nightmare ends.
Somewhere in the scramble, I hear the sound of a slide racking. Turning, I see my mother pull a small pistol from her waist and point it straight at Sebastian. I never thought this is where my life would lead me, my sister barely breathing next to me, my father dead on the floor of some warehouse in the middle of a blood feud between a family we had no business meddling in. Yet here we are. This life is full of choices. And for once, mine are completely clear. Picking up the gun my father dropped when his body hit the floor, I level the barrel at my mother’s head.
“If you touch him, you won’t live to see tomorrow. That’s a promise I have no hesitation in keeping, mother.” I say, silence washing over the room.
I stand, not wavering for a moment in my convictions. I will kill her. I feel no reservation or cause for second guessing that decision. But enough blood has already been spilled here today because of stupid men, I don’t need to add to it unnecessarily.
“You would never kill your own family, your own blood.” My mother spits, and I straighten my spine. She will never change. She will perpetuate this vicious cycle for every one of my siblings until they’re all nothing but shells of the people they were once meant to be.
“Sebastian is my family. And I will do anything it takes to protect him,” I declare, and I see the exact moment she loses her sense of reality.
She lunges towards me, and I pull the trigger. I expect to feel…something. Sadness maybe? Or guilt? But all I feel is vindication and a sense of relief, knowing Sebastian is safe for the first time in so long.
A groan sounds behind me, and I drop to my knees, the gun clattering to the floor. A sob wracks my body as I survey the damage they’ve done to my sister. I can’t imagine the internal injuries she’s sustained or how long she’s endured this torture.
“Aria? I’m right here. You’re gonna be okay, I promise. We’re going to get you to a doctor.” Maybe I’m trying to convince myself more than her as I brush her curls back out of her face. They’re caked in blood and my stomach rolls, bile creeping up my throat.
“I’ve got her, Ness. Let me take her out,” Enzo seems to materialize next to me, scooping her up gently.
“Be careful! Please, Enzo…don’t…” I beg, and he looks at me knowingly, sympathy lacing his features.
“I promise I will take care of her. I will keep her safe.” He vows, and I nod, letting them go.
“Vanessa?” I hear the voice I’ve been waiting what feels like an eternity for, even though it’s only been a matter of hours.
Turning, I cross the space between us in seconds, jumping into his arms. He catches me with ease, kissing my chest, my arms, my face, any part of me he can reach.
“I’m so sorry, I let you walk right into the hands of my enemy. I could never be worthy of your forgiveness, but I will spend my life earning it.” He holds me tightly to his chest, and I never want to leave this embrace.
“It’s not something you have to earn. There’s nothing to forgive, Seb. Our lives will be a constant state of someone reaching for the power you possess and us fighting back. And it’s a fight I’m willing to be a part of every single time if it means I get to stand by your side, Sebastian. But maybe next time, let’s not keep me in the dark about cousins trying to burn the family tree, okay? Next time someone tries to make a grab for the family jewels, try to keep me informed.” I joke and he just laughs, burying his hands in my hair.
“I don’t know what kind of deal I made with the devil to earn a woman like you, but I don’t care. I love you, Vanessa.” he says, crashing his lips against mine in a desperate kiss.
I could get lost in this moment, the world disappearing around us even though Sebastian’s men are cleaning up bodies and evidence only a few feet away. All I can think about is how safe I feel wrapped in his arms, in his kiss. I’m sure a therapist could unpack something about that, but I’m gonna leave it alone. He makes me feel seen and understood for once in my life, and I won’t ever give that up now that it’s mine.
“Wait!” I say, pushing back from his chest. “Matteo?”
