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The finality in his voice is a stark reminder of what’s at stake, yet it’s Alessandro’s indomitable will that fills my thoughts.
“Then keep fighting for him. He wouldn’t give up on any of us,” I say, my voice firmer than I feel, imbued with the strength Alessandro has always believed I possessed.
The doctor nods, a silent promise to battle on in the face of uncertainty. As I stand to leave, the resolve within me solidifies; no matter the outcome, I’ll stand by Alessandro, as he has always stood by me.
I return to Emma just as Tony comes running up to us. “How is he?” Tony asks.
“They’re not sure,” I reply. “They’re still operating on him but it’s touch and go. He’ll be glad to know you’re alive.”
“I made it to the meet. Found a bomb. But,” he pauses, a wry smile touching his lips, “turns out, my disarming skills are a bit sharper than I thought. I guess fate’s helping us all today.”
Emma’s gaze flickers between us, a mix of fear and admiration. “You think all this was fate?” she asks, her voice tinged with the hope that’s been so hard to come by these last hours.
“Fate, or maybe just dumb luck,” Tony replies, shrugging. “But yeah, maybe it saved Alessandro today. It’s like the universe is on our side for once.”
The doctor returns, his expression unreadable. “Mrs. Rossi,” he begins, and the world seems to hold its breath. “I have some news.”
TWENTY-SIX
Alessandro
The first thing I hear is a steady beep. I recognize it well. It’s the same beep that I listened to for hours while my father lay dying. Am I dead? No, I can’t be.
My heart is being monitored. I’m alive. My eyes open slowly, wincing at the sterile brightness of a hospital room.
“You’re awake.” Jess’s voice, filled with concern and warmth. I turn my head and there she is, the woman who’s become my entire world.
I find myself drifting. The pain’s a dull reminder of my brush with death, but it’s Jess’s hand in mine, warm and solid, that comforts me. I’ve lived in the shadows, always a step ahead, always in control.
Yet, as I gaze into her eyes, I see the reflection of a man changed by love, by fear, by the sheer force of her belief in me.
My eyes close again and I’m out.
I’ve wielded power, commanded men, shaped destinies with a word. But lying here, vulnerable and stripped of all but my will, I feel the truth.
My control, my possessiveness, they were shields, armors against a world too chaotic, too unpredictable.
I thought I was protecting her, us, from the darkness that’s always lurked at our edges. But I see now, it was Jess who was the light, guiding me back each time I veered too close to becoming the very thing I fought against.
My eyes open again. She’s still there, her hand in mine. “Stay with me,” she says. “Can you hear me?”
“I’ve been too much, haven’t I?” I whisper, the words heavy with the realization of my faults, my failings. “Too controlling, too afraid to let go, even when it was you who showed me strength.”
Jess’s smile is soft, forgiving. “You learned to listen,” she says, squeezing my hand. “To trust not just in your strength but in ours. Together.”
In this sterile room, with the beep of the monitor a steady backdrop, I feel a shift. A loosening of the chains I’d wound so tightly around us, fearing loss, fearing failure.
Jess’s presence, her unwavering support, has been my compass through storms I’d never imagined we’d face.
“I want to do better,” I continue, the admission feeling like a vow. “For you, for us. I love you, Jess, more than control, more than power. You’ve shown me what truly matters.”
Her eyes, luminous and filled with an emotion so deep, hold mine. “I love you too,” she whispers back, and in that moment, I understand. Love isn’t control; it’s the freedom to stand by each other, in light, in darkness, always.
“What did I miss while I was out?”
“Tony managed to disarm the bomb,” Jess starts, her voice carrying a mixture of relief and pride. “He saved a lot of lives.”
I smile to myself. I was right to let him live. I nod, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips despite the aches and pains. “Tony’s always had a knack for getting out of tight spots.”
