Page 125 of Humility

“What are you doing here? What are you doing getting shot, you fool,” I growled at him.

He smiled wide. “That’s my Tiger, always so fierce.” He clutched my hand tight. “Fuck, that hurts. Do you have to press so hard?”

“Do you want to live or bleed out,” Dario asked.

“That’s a stupid question,” Angelo said, wincing and holding my hand tighter.

“Then shut up,” Dario ordered.

“The ambulance is on its way.” Papa knelt by Angelo and looked at him. “You saved my life.”

“I owe you more than that.” Angelo pointed to a black bag near the open window, and I suddenly knew how he had gotten inside. “Everything I took is in there. I’m sorry.” Angelo turned his eyes to mine, but I could hardly see through my tears. “I’m so sorry, Tiger. I only took it to look like a hero when I found it. I just…I couldn’t think of another way to make myself worthy. I thought being a hero would do it.”

“You know that’s stupid, right?” I ran my hand through his hair. “You never needed to prove yourself to me.” I watched as my papa set the bag on the desk and pulled out folders and velvet bags before pulling out the egg’s black protective case. “I thought you sold it.”

“It was tempting, but I couldn’t do it. I only ever wanted the egg to win you, but that plan got ruined because of that piece of shit,” Angelo said, pointing at Jacopo. “I’m feeling a little lightheaded. That can’t be good.

“Where is that ambulance?” I yelled as I heard boots running down the hall. “I love you, don’t you dare die, you ass. I need to yell at you some more.”

Angelo weakly smiled before I was forced to let go of his hand and move out of the way. Everything moved in fast motion. Guards piled into the room and helped Enzo drag Jacopo away while Dario held me back to let the paramedics load Angelo up on a gurney. Dario spoke as we walked out to follow the ambulance, but I didn’t know who he was talking to or what he was saying. All I could picture was Angelo on the floor, bleeding. If he died…closing my eyes as we got into the vehicle, I ran through every touch, look, and conversation we’d shared. No, he had to be okay. He had to be.

Chapter Fifty-Four

ANGELO

Confusion and white-hot pain. What the hell happened? My mind raced as it grabbed at the memories on the periphery of my brain fog.

Blinking, I slowly opened my eyes and stared at a darkened ceiling I didn’t recognize. I would never stay somewhere with cheap drop-down ceilings, so this wasn’t a hotel. Rolling my head to the side, I took in the monitors, and it all came racing back. The mad dash to get to Jasmine, the dead guards, sneaking up the wall like I was fucking twenty again, and the impossible timing as I raced across the room to jump in front of Jasmine and her father. If I’d been even a minute later, Don Falcone would be dead.

“No, you’re not dead. But you may wish you to be by the time we are through,” I swallowed and winced at the razor blade feeling traveling down my throat.

Don Falcone walked into my view as he came to stand beside my bed. I thought I would be terrified to face him, but a sense of calm had taken over my soul on the flight here. There was peace in accepting whatever fate awaited me. All I wanted was one last chance to make things right, and I did that…mostly. I would take another conversation with Jasmine before they carted me off to my death, but aside from that, I stopped Jacopo, saved Don Falcone, and returned everything that I’d stolen. The only thing I couldn’t and wouldn’t give back was Jasmine’s heart. I would remember the love in her eyes no matter how many hours or years I had left.

“Excuse my language, but…” I licked my dry lips. “I don’t give a flying fuck what you do to me now. I made my bed, and I know what comes next.”

His lip curled up. “Are you so quick to accept death over being with my daughter?”

“That is not even a choice. I would choose Jasmine a million times over and fight with my last breath to have her, but I also know I have made too many mistakes.” I refused to look away from his eyes.

“Tell me why you stole the egg?”

Sucking in a breath, I braced against the pain and pushed myself up higher on the bed. It felt like a fucking marathon just to gain a couple of inches.

“I never meant to leave Jasmine. I tried negotiating with you to have her come to Chicago when I realized the few months had no end date. When you said no, I cut things off. I couldn’t lead her on for years when I didn’t know when I would return. It had stupidly been my dream to prove my worth and take over as head of my family.” I snorted and looked away. “My father was never going to consider me worthy. I was a lost cause, and looking back, I should’ve just left and come for her instead.”

“Then you came home, and I refused your offer again. Was taking the egg revenge?”

I chuckled and grabbed my side as the pain stabbed me. “You would think it’s that simple, but no. I still wanted Jasmine. So, I devised a scheme to steal the egg and make it look like a robbery. The plan was to wait a few weeks, knowing you would offer whatever it took to get it back. I wanted her. I was always going to return it. So fucking stupid. The alarm going off was what I hadn’t been banking on. I had a guard on the inside who knew how much I loved Jasmine and offered to help for a price. Enzo dismantled the alarm, but Jacopo got wind of what I was planning. Long story short, Jacopo had his own plan, and I was fucking with it, so he set off the alarm.” Sighing, I looked up at Don Falcone and couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His face was set in a frown that didn’t give me much hope. “Jacopo was also the one who had me shipped off to Chicago in the first place. I just found that out and how he manipulated my father.” I shook my head. “If I live, I’m killing him with my bare hands. All I can say for my actions is that I was desperate.”

The heavy silver rings he wore glinted as he rubbed his chin, and I expected his fist to mess up my face very soon.

“You love my daughter that much?”

“She’s the only person I have ever loved. I would do anything for her, and I do mean anything.”

“Why start this deadly game, to begin with? You never spoke to me about arranging a marriage. I probably wouldn’t have granted it after you terrorized her for years, but why didn’t you try?”

I swallowed again. “I should’ve known you knew about that, too.” I rubbed my face. “Honestly, I didn’t think I was worthy. I’ve never thought I was worthy of anything, but she made me feel like I could conquer the world.” Grabbing the plastic cup, I took a sip of the gross, warm water, but it helped my aching throat. “I also knew that if I asked you, she would say no even if you considered it because I’d been an ass most of her life. I was too arrogant to accept that as an option.” I shook my head. “So, I needed her to say yes, first. I wanted to win her heart, and if that twisted your arm in the process….”