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“If you knew your granddaughter the way I do, you would know she doesn’t need to be handled.” Luca hovered over my grandfather, who sat on a chair in front of me. “She’s much stronger than you realize.”
“I blame you for every bad thing that has happened to her.”
“You have every right.” Luca stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I will spend the rest of my life regretting my decisions.”
Pops gave him a satisfied nod.
Luca squeezed my shoulder like he couldn’t believe I was real and had to check. He hadn’t left my side from the moment he woke me up on the boat.
“Alex needs a bath and some rest,” Luca said to Pops. “We can take it from here.”
My grandfather removed a bottle of pills from his pocket and handed them to Luca. “See that she takes these until she’s feeling better.”
Luca glanced at the label on the bottle, then stuffed them into the pocket of his suit jacket.
After Pops left the house, Luca carried me upstairs with his brothers in tow. He sat me on the toilet in the ensuite bathroom in his bedroom. Without a word, he got on his knees and filled the massive garden tub with soapy water.
I watched him in action.
When he thought no one was watching him, Luca looked at peace. Like the man he would have become if his mother were still alive.
Marcello kneeled beside me and placed his hand on my thigh. Just the feel of his skin pressed against mine made me feel safe, comforted.
Bastian moved between my spread thighs. He put his head on my stomach and hugged me. “I missed you, Cherry.”
I moved my hand to the back of his head and shoved my fingers through his short, brown hair. He lifted his head to look up at me and smiled.
Damian propped himself up against the wall by the window, his intense green eyes on me. I hadn’t heard him speak a single word, not even to his brothers.
Was he in shock, too?
“I’m not okay,” I whispered to no one in particular.
Luca slipped his fingers between mine. “We know, baby. What I said to your grandfather…” He sighed. “I didn’t mean to imply you’re broken. We will get through this together, okay? And we’re going to come out of this stronger.”
“Thank you,” I muttered and meant every word.
“No need to thank me, baby.” He cupped my face in his hands and bent down to kiss me. “I’m glad you’re home. I know I’ve been hard on you. I haven’t always been the man you deserve. But losing you… It was the worst pain imaginable. I promised myself if I got you back, I would change. I’ll be better for you.”
“I thought pain is just weakness leaving the body.”
“Physical pain, yes.” His hands dropped to my thighs. “But I hadn’t felt emotional pain since my mom died. It took every ounce of control for me to hold it together.”
I stroked his short, black hair with my fingers. It was loose and messy, as if he had been pulling on the ends. He usually kept it gelled and spiky. But as our eyes met, he looked more like the damaged boy I’d met years ago.
His thumb brushed my cheek. “My queen, I will gladly give my life for yours, now and forever.”
I smiled at his words. “Have you been rehearsing your wedding vows?”
Luca helped me up from the toilet seat. “We’re getting married as soon as you feel better. No more waiting. I’m making you my wife.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard.
Marcello raised my shirt over my head while Bastian inched down my shorts. They made me change out of the wedding gown after I ate on the boat. I could tell just the sight of me wearing another man’s dress made them want to kill someone.
Luca lifted me in his arms and lowered me into the bathtub with care. Like I was as breakable as glass.
I leaned my head back on the tub and looked up at them. “Is this what our lives will be like? Never able to breathe, always having to watch our backs?”
