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“No, not yet,” I reply.
Her brow furrows. “Then what changed your mind?”
“You did,” I tell her honestly.
Her brow furrows more.
“I realized that I trusted you. It was just—old habits. I should have known better.”
The tense set of her shoulders eases, and she nods. “It's okay, Nico, I understand. You came back—that’s what matters.”
“Just like that?” I tease. “I was sure I’d have to grovel all the way to Harmony and back.”
She smiles. It’s tremulous, and she’s still too pale, but it’s genuine. She strains toward me, closing the space between us. “You can start groveling tomorrow. Tonight, I need you too much.”
“You have me, baby,” I murmur against her lips. “Always.”
We stay like that for long moments, not quite kissing, just breathing each other in, our mouths touching.
“I love you too, Nico Vitelli.”
“Ah, fiammetta. What have you done with that shiny new black and white box?”
She smiles. “Oh, that? I doused it in gasoline and set it on fire.”
I laugh, but she’s unable to do much more than grin with bruising around her throat.
Our life will never be picture-perfect, not like the white-picket happy endings in cheesy movies. It will be messy and violent and will probably involve more stepping around dead bodies than the average couple’s.
But it’s real, and it’s Sophie, and I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I want this woman with a spine of steel and a heart of gold—not just for now, but forever.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nico
“I guess they didn’t have anything bigger?” Sophie muses, her gaze sweeping up the grandeur of the Vitelli estate. She’s wearing a straight face, but there’s humor dancing in her eyes.
I give a light-hearted shrug, “We make do.”
Her laughter peals out, clear and bright. There’s no hoarseness left in her voice, and the bruising around her neck is gone now too. It’s higher-pitched than usual, though. She’s nervous—not an affliction Sophie seems to suffer from often.
The front door opens, and Dante steps outside. He waits for us at the top of the wide stone porch as we climb the steps.
As we reach him, he greets me with claps to my back and then pulls Sophie into a too-long embrace.
“Nervous?” he inquires with a hint of mischief, releasing Sophie just before the urge to slug him becomes overwhelming.
“A little,” Sophie admits, then looks back at me. “Nico, are you sure they won’t mind me dropping by like this?”
“It’s their wedding anniversary, amore mio, you’re a surprise gift they’ll absolutely adore. Besides, we’ve been through way more awkward family introductions before haven’t we?”
Sophie’s smile widens, no doubt recalling my first visit to Harmony. “I’m sure this one will go a lot smoother than that.”
“We can certainly hope,” Dante looks skeptical. “Now, Sophie, I wouldn’t look Father straight in the eye, though. It triggers him when women do that.”
“Really?” Sophie’s smile disappears, her anxious gaze swinging to me. “Nico, you didn’t think to tell me that?”
“Dante is an ass. Ignore him.”
