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Love Knows No Bounds
Cecilia
The moment I saw my first born hooked up to all those machines and wires, the sobs broke out of me once again. Knowing how close he came to losing his life had shaken me to the core. No mother should ever have to go through the pain of losing a child. It also brought back the gut-wrenching memories of losing Vinny the same way.
And all I felt was guilt. I did this. I pushed Olivia into his life. If he had never met her, this never would have happened. He would never have risked his life like that for anyone else. But he was his father's son and I would be a fool if I thought that he wouldn’t do it again.
I held his unresponsive hand as I stroked his black hair away from his eyes and stared down at his beautiful face. He looked so peaceful.
“How long has it been going on, Cecilia and why wasn’t I aware?” Sal gritted behind me after five minutes. I knew he was there, but thankfully he had given me a moment with my son before his interrogation started.
“A few weeks.” I turned towards him as he glared at me with his muscular arms folded across his chest. “And don’t you dare think about fucking this up for them, Sal! I meant it. I will never forgive you.”
His jaw ticked as his dark eyes peered down at Giovanni’s sleeping form. “This is why Cecilia. This is what I have tried to protect him from. He could have died! Just like Vin!”
I looked back down at my son as I nodded my head sadly. “Yes. He could have. But that was his choice. As much as you want to control everyone, Sal, people have the right to make their own choices.”
“Like you made yours,” his tone was low and laced with pain as my head whipped round to him. His face had softened, and he held my gaze. I don’t know if it was the intense emotions that were still in control of me or the situation, but I suddenly felt sorry for this man. I had put him through a lot of pain over the years yet he still showed up when I needed him. He gave me a sad smile before he ran his hand through his silver hair and walked towards the window.
“If the Leones did this, they must pay.”
“Will it be enough?” I asked.
He stared out the slats of the blinds with a vacant expression. If we could get proof that the Leones were behind this, then we could take the evidence to the commission and they could give us the green light to seek revenge. We wouldn’t be allowed to kill them but we could still do something that would cause a chink in their armour.
“No. I want Riccardo dead, CeCe. And his bastard son. I want them wiped out for what they have done to this family.”
“I know. I want the same thing.”
Turning around, he fixed his gaze on mine. “Then we need an alliance with the Aianis.”
My eyes must have popped out of my head at his words because he rolled his eyes. “You can’t be serious? When are you going to see what is right in front of you, Salvatore? Gio put Olivia’s life before his own. He would never give her up. And you still want him to marry that girl?”
“Yes. That is the deal and when I give my word, I mean it.”
“But it wasn’t your word to give!” I screamed, losing my temper. How can we still be going around in these circles? If I didn’t stop this, everything would end in disaster. Either Sal and Gio would be at loggerheads or Olivia would leave him. I stood up abruptly, not caring how desperate I seemed, and grabbed Sal’s forearm over his suit jacket. “Please Sal. Don’t make him do this. Don’t put him in this position. You have the power to change the deal. You have the means to make a different deal that the Aianis could still be happy with. I know you do.”
His molten eyes bore into mine as I pleaded with him, and he sighed deeply. “You are right. I do.” Hope rose in me on hearing his words, but it soon faded just as fast. “But I won’t. It is the best and cheapest deal for such loyalty.”
My nostrils flared as I narrowed my eyes at him. “There must be something you want, Sal. Please. Don’t do this to my son.”
His eyes met mine with a knowing look and I gulped. A small smile played at the corners of his lips. I stepped back immediately, releasing him from my grasp. “Of course, there is Cecilia. But you already knew that.” I shook my head slowly. “You.”
Every muscle in my body tensed under his heated gaze. I had fallen straight into his trap. He was giving me a choice. Be his or put the burden of this alliance on my son. I felt numb inside. He stepped forward and ran his rough knuckles over my cheek. “Your choice CeCe,” he stated before leaving the room. I peered down at my son barely alive in the hospital bed and I knew I didn’t have a choice. I would do it if it came to that. I would give up my life to allow him to live his. A mother's love knows no bounds.
Awakening A Monster
Olivia
“Hey,” Elle’s head poked around the heavily guarded door of Giovanni’s hospital room. I lifted my head off the edge of his bed where I had been dozing in and out of sleep for the last few hours. “Your flat mate just dropped some clothes here for you. Are you sure you don’t want to go home and shower? Get some proper rest?”
I shook my head with a smile as I stood up and took the bag of clothes from Elle. I had to get that blood-stained dress off me, but I refused to leave the hospital. I think Gio’s family and the hospital staff were a little taken aback by just how stubborn I could be and they finally caved, giving me some hospital scrubs to change into, but I would be glad to be in my own clothes again.
She walked up to the side of the bed and glanced down at her sleeping brother with worry etched on her features. “No change?”
I yawned loudly, covering my mouth as quickly as I could to avoid the lecture, but it was too late. “No. No change.”
She gave me a disapproving look. “Liv. You need to sleep. Or shower at least. The doctors said it could be twenty-four hours before he wakes up. It's only been twenty so just go and look after yourself.”
