“I’m serious.” His arm tightens. “I nearly died. I’m allowed to be clingy.”
“Clingy.” I lift my head to look at him. “The Don of New Orleans. Clingy.”
“Only with you.” His eyes meet mine. Unguarded. “Solo con te.Only ever with you.”
I settle back against his chest. Let his heartbeat steady me.
He said it. He loves me.
And I love him.
Soon. I’ll tell him soon.
For now, I shut my eyes. Feel his arms around me. Let myself believe this is real.
And for the first time in my life, I don’t brace for the fall. His heartbeat counts for me. Steady and strong beneath my ear. Each beat a promise I’m not ready to name but too tired to doubt.
I close my eyes. And I believe.
29
DANTE
Morning light spills through the medical wing blinds, painting everything gold.
I wake in stages. No gasping, no fighting, no clawing my way back from darkness. For the first time in days, the surface finds me on its own.
There’s a warmth against my chest. Real.
Cassia.
She’s curled into my side, her head on my shoulder, one arm draped across my stomach. Her breathing is slow and even. Deep sleep.
She let herself rest at last.
My left arm is dead. Pins and needles from shoulder to fingertips. She’s been lying on it for hours, cutting off circulation, and I couldn’t care less.
I try to shift, to get some blood flowing back. Bad idea. The pins and needles turn to fire. I grit my teeth and stay still.
Worth it.
I remember last night. Asking her to come here. Pulling her onto the narrow hospital bed beside me because I couldn’t stand another minute of watching her fold herself into that chair.
She protested. Said she’d hurt me. Said I needed space to heal.
I told her the only thing I needed was her.
She climbed in with care. Settled against me like she was afraid I’d break. And somewhere in the quiet hours before dawn, we both fell asleep.
Now morning is here. I’m alive. She’s in my arms.
I let myself look at her. Her hair is tangled, escaping from whatever style it started in days ago. Her dress is wrinkled, and there are shadows under her eyes.
Cristo.She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
This woman sat in that chair for three days. Held my hand while I coded on the table. Watched the monitors with her lips moving in silent words. Refused to leave even when Gia tried to make her eat, sleep, take care of herself.
She stayed. Through all of it. For me.
