“I want you to be happy too, Vinny. I love you.”
I swallowed hard at her words. I’d never felt this way about anyone before. Growing up, I wondered what it would be like to fall in love and find the one person who could set my world ablaze with their love for me.
I’d found it in my baby B.
“I love you too,” I whispered. “So much. Always will.”
I held her as her breathing grew deeper, her fingers twisted in the ugly hospital gown I had on.
I wanted to do whatever it took to make her happy. But I still really wanted to gut those fucking horsemen.
Maybe I could manage it without her knowing. The last thing I wanted was my girl to worry.
I closed my eyes, Enzo De Luca’s face in my mind.
An eye for an eye, motherfucker.
Or in this case, two thighs and a shoulder.
I’d make Enzo De Luca my bucket of fucking chicken.
CHAPTER7
Bianca
“Here’s my number,” I said, sliding a scrap of paper to Natalia as we sat at the kitchen island the next morning.
Dominic and Levin had decided we needed to return to Bolten to make sure things didn’t look suspicious. Dominic claimed it was already bad enough we were dealing with shit from his father and adding to it with this would make people think we were bitches if we didn’t return.
“Thanks,” she said softly, taking the paper.
I bit my bottom lip. “I also wanted to tell you thank you for taking care of Levin when he was hurt.”
She nodded. “You’re welcome. He was easy to care for mostly. We got to talk about Stefan.”
“That was nice, huh?”
A smile graced her lips. “It really was. I think it’s important to keep the dead alive through m-memories,” her voice cracked, and she quickly wiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I still cry when I think about him.”
I reached out instinctively and wrapped her in a tight embrace. She sobbed softly on my shoulder as she hugged me back. We stayed like that until she stopped and pulled away.
“Thank you, Bianca,” she whispered. “You’re a sweet person. I can see why my brother is so in love with you.”
“I love him too,” I answered, offering her a tissue from the box on the counter. “He’s amazing.”
“He’s one of the good ones. I just wish this wasn’t his life. I worry for him. Our father. . .” her voice trailed off as a dark look crossed her face. “It doesn’t matter. There are lots of monsters in this world.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” I murmured, thinking about Matteo De Santis.
“You’re really lucky. You have four guys who are head over heels for you.”
“Yeah.” I smiled as I thought about the four of them. “It wasn’t easy to get here. I doubt it’ll ever be simple.”
“Then just hold on,” she said, giving my hand a squeeze. “Don’t ever let go of someone you love.”
I nodded, my throat tight. I’d never let go.
“Natalia?”