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His lips brushed my temple, and I sighed as I nuzzled into him.
“I love you, too,” I whispered, and his arms tightened around me. I wanted to tell him that I’d been terrified I wouldn’t be able to say it back, to tell them all how I truly felt, how important they’d become to me.
But I just hoped as I held him, that he understood the depth of my words. That my love for them overrode everything. They’d pulled me from the darkness and shown me a life worth fighting for. One with them by my side.
“I’ll love you, forever and always,amore mio.”
I snuggled up to Zane on the couch, his arm wrapped around my shoulders filling me with comfort and a sense of safety. It’d been nearly three weeks since the attack, and things had settled down.Enzo was currently cooking something that smelled heavenly, while Kieran was off in his art room painting once more.
The main compound was fortified to the max, and I knew nothing could happen to us here. The three of them had assured me of that daily. It’d taken nearly an entire week for me to finally stop being on guard, my mind and body fried from being on edge constantly.
Patrick Slade had been elusive, and I wondered when I’d meet their renowned father, although I was in no rush.
I toyed with my pendant as we watched the action movie, taking comfort in the sentimental piece from the brothers.
“You okay?” Zane asked, noting my fidgeting.
“I’m fine, I promise,” I answered softly as I rested my head on his shoulder.
And for once, I actually meant what I said. Everything was feeling good, the sweet contentment washing over me at this moment.
We’d survived so much together, and they’d doted on me madly once we’d gotten to the compound. Hank had now become my own personal bodyguard, although I never left the compound without them. They waited on me hand and foot, and it was both amazing and slightly suffocating. But I focused on knowing they meant well.
I checked my phone, smiling at the update from Thomas, a selfie of him with his mother and sister. As soon as he’d been stable enough, he’d been flown over to join them, the Slades taking care that his new identity was only known between the four of us, not even their father knew of it.
Our connection was via secure networks, just to be extra safe, but seeing him so happy and making plans with his family was bringing a smile to my face.
“What’s he up to?” Zane asked as he peered over my shoulder.
“They’re grabbing lunch, then off to a festival. Once he’s one hundred percent, they’ve got a few things planned. Some hikes and adventures in the area. He’s loving Italy,” I stated. I’d not actually known where he’d been sent to with his family, but it made sense now.
Everything had quietened down with the Moretti family, they had rounded up the last of those who had defied the main family, and let the Slades handle them. I didn’t ask for details there, but I was just glad the truce had been re-established and everything seemed to be running smoothly once more.
“Where would you like to go?” Zane asked lazily as he kissed my cheek.
“Today?”
“No, traveling wise.”
“Lots of places.”
“If you could fly anywhere tomorrow for a holiday, where would you go?” he clarified, and I chewed my cheek thoughtfully.
“Machu Picchu, always wanted to see it, it looks so beautiful. Or somewhere tropical,” I mused, the aromas from Enzo’s cooking making my stomach rumble.
“Well, we’ll do that then,” Zane said as he kissed my temple.
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
I balked at him, but he just rolled his head, giving me that small, devilish smile.
“You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack. You’ve been through a lot, we could all use a vacation.”
“We’ve all been through hell, you got shot, too,” Enzo spoke up from the kitchen.
