Massimo’s face twists with fury and disbelief as he watches his daughter stand with me.
“Thank God you're okay,” she breathes again my chest, voice filled with relief.
That's supposed to be my line. I'm relieved to see she's fine. For a moment I thought I almost lost her.
“Thank you for not letting them take me,” she starts crying, and it breaks my heart to see her cry.
“Never. I'd never let anyone take you.” I gently rub her back. “Shh… I've got you. You're safe. Gallo can't have you.”
And I will burn his entire empire to the ground before I let him take her from me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Eleonora
Gallo is dead.
Nico killed him three days ago right in front of me, and the nightmare that man represented died with him.Yet my body hasn’t caught up with that truth. My mind still spins with fear when the lights go out.
The past three days have been strange and heavy.
Nico moved back into our bedroom the same night it happened. He hasn’t left my side since. He sleeps with me every night, his arms wrapped tightly around me like he’s afraid I might disappear if he lets go.
I’m grateful for it. Because most nights I wake up gasping, drenched in sweat, convinced Gallo’s hands are dragging me away, his voice promising to make me his.
Every single time, Nico is there.
He pulls me against his chest, one hand stroking my hair, the other rubbing my back. His voice is low and steady in the dark.
“You’re safe, baby. You’re here with me. No one is going to hurt you. I won’t let them. I’ve got you.”
I believe him when he says it. I cling to him tighter and let his heartbeat calm mine until I can fall asleep again.
We haven’t spoken much about what happened. There’s a quiet understanding between us now. He gives me the space I need to process everything, but he never lets me be truly alone.
He makes sure I eat. He sits with me when I stare off into nothing. He’s just… there. Steady. Present.
I’ve been trying so hard to be strong for Sienna. She’s slowly getting better, but the loss of Domenico still haunts her and she hates our father even more after the attack.
During the day, I sit with her in the living room or the garden, forcing smiles and gentle laughter even when I feel hollow inside. I don’t tell her about my nightmares. She’s carrying enough already. I won’t add my fears to her burden.
I feel safest when I’m near Nico. So sometimes when Sienna is napping, I slip into his office and curl up on the couch while he works.
I know I’m distracting him. I know he’s not getting nearly as much done with me always around, but he never complains. He just glances over every few minutes, checking on me, making sure I’m okay.
And I’m so grateful he doesn’t get annoyed by how clingy I’ve become. He never sighs or pulls away. He just holds me tighter when I need it.
I still haven’t given him an answer about the ring. About marriage. About any of it.
But every night when he wraps himself around me and whispers that I’m safe, I feel something deep inside me shifting. Softening.
He might have kept his plans about my sisters from me, but one thing I’m certain of is that Nico will protect me with his life if it ever comes to that.
Early this morning, I woke up gasping from another nightmare, Gallo’s hands dragging me through the garden, Daniel’s betrayal, the sound of gunfire, Nico never reaching me in time.
I woke up crying, shaking, and Nico was already there, pulling me tightly into his arms. He held me through every sob, whispering that I was safe, that he had me, that no one would ever take me from him again.
I cried until I had nothing left, and I fell back asleep feeling completely safe in his arms.
