AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know you were supposed to stay with your family tonight, but I don’t want you out of my sight. So you’re coming home with me. I’ll leave first thing in the morning before you wake up,” Luciano whispered in my ear.
This time I wasn’t going to argue with him.
We made our way around the room, telling everyone goodbye and thanking them for coming even though it didn’t turn out how we had hoped.
His mother would need all of our emotional energy for the coming hours, and I could feel her sadness when I walked into that room to find Krysten holding Angelo’s hands.
What was difficult was that his mother gave up her place at his father’s side when she saw us walk through the door.
I didn’t want to let go of his hand, and I knew he needed me even if he didn’t want to say so.
Watching him walk over to his father’s laid out body, I stood there looking at him thinking of all the hate and frustration that this man had brought to the world.
He’d gotten his just desserts that someone had taken him out when I couldn’t. That didn’t mean he wasn’t leaving more pain and grief behind.
“Dad, I’m really sorry this happened to you. You shouldn’t have had it happen or even been a victim of this. I’ll find the people who did this to you if it’s the last thing I ever do. You need to know that you’re going to be missed. I love you.” For a member of the mafia, he actually expressed his emotions in a way that made me realize it was the dawning of a new era.
Hopefully this wouldn’t turn him bitter and angry. He would use his grief to punish those responsible.
“It’s time to go home.” He walked both me and his mother out to the cars.
Sliding an arm around her waist, I released his hands knowing that she needed his strength more than I did.
“Do you need to go with her right now? She draws her strength from you,” I suggested as she got into the other car with the extra guards.
“She’ll need a few minutes to help compose herself before seeing the staff.” He guided me into the car and followed me, then held my hand and looked out the window.
Once we arrived back at the house, he walked his mother to her room before he would join me for a shower.
I finished quickly and then sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to return.
“I already cleaned up, so while you finish showering, I’ll go get us something from the kitchen to eat. I’ll bring it up.” I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek.
He joined me shortly thereafter as I was putting together a few sandwiches. I was surprised he took such a quick shower and came downstairs. I thought for sure he would need a moment to himself.
It was almost as if he’d zoned out and was just staring off into the future.
There was little said as we ate, but I understood. He was trying to process everything and grieve at the same time while trying to deal with all the new responsibilities that had been suddenly placed on his shoulder earlier than he’d planned.
I grabbed his hand on the way back to the bedroom and held on. He gave me a squeeze, pulled my hand to his lips for a kiss, and smiled at me.
He groaned and sank to the bed. “I was supposed to have more time to learn to be able to ask him questions.”
I pushed him forward and settled behind him so he could lean against me before I started to rub his back. “That’s true, but you’ve basically been running everything anyway. You’ve been the Don. Your father was just the headpiece. Now, you’ve lost your father. So grieve him as your father and not the boss.” I stroked my fingers through his hair, and used my nails to scratch his head. He loosened and unwound in my arms.
“He’d want you to ask advice before you start the hunt for whoever killed him. But he already knew you were capable; he just wanted to feel needed for a little while more, but he was all ready to retire.” I kept scratching at his head as he lay in my arms. “They are targeting us. They want us dead and we can’t allow that to happen,” I said.
“No, we can’t.”
We fell asleep like that. I didn’t mention his tears, I only held him close as he started the grieving process. He’d always be safe to do that with me.
The next morning he kissed me gently on the forehead before leaving. I moaned and lifted my lips for more, but I already heard him across the room.
“I’ll be in my office with Stefano while you get ready, and I’ll see you at the wedding, my love,” he whispered as the door closed behind him.
I closed my eyes for another hour before a knock on my door woke me again.
My sister and mother walked in with Elana and the stylists.
