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"She's awake? Thank God!"
A short-haired woman with a blinding smile rushes into the room and hip-checks Roberto's father aside to lean over and give me a mindfully gentle hug. She pulls back and coos, "Oh, you're sobeautiful!You and your mother, I swear, you should've both been models. You've just both got that stunning quality."
"Gabriella?" I check, grinning because her smile is so contagious.
"That's me," she beams.
Even my mother seems fond of the Giovanni Don's girlfriend, and she doesn't typically take kindly to others quickly.
"It's good to finally meet you. Roberto's said a lot about you."
"Good things, I hope. Oops, I forgot the applesauce muffins in the car. I'll be right back. Oh, I ought to see when Anthony and Diana will be here. Roberto's brother and sister-in-law have been so busy, but I'm sure those two are just dying to meet you."
She hurries from the room, and Roberto chuckles and looks at me. "She's been in here every chance she can get. I think Mandi is at work right now, but she's also been in here a hell of a lot. You've been recovering for three days," he adds when I frown.
"Far faster than the doctors estimated for a gunshot wound at such proximity," my father says. "It's because you're a Russo."
I'm pretty sure it's because of the healing-assistingVitalenin my system, and I'm also certain that I see Roberto's father roll his eyes, but I don’t say anything.
The parents stay for a moment longer, but my father soon gets a call, and Roberto's father excuses himself, too, probably seeing the intense look Roberto keeps giving me and how his fingers keep tracing the back of my hand.
My mother leans over to hug me gently, murmuring in my ear so Roberto won't overhear.
"About what you said, darling…your father and I aren't disappointed in who you've fallen for. Truthfully, I was beginning to doubt you'd fall for anyone, and that's what made me so insistent about all the blind dates. But you and this Giovanni…Roberto," she corrects herself. "Everyone in that room could see your love for each other. We won't stand in the way of that."
She pulls back and gives me a soft smile, trying to tame one of my curls before she sweeps out of the room, leaving me fighting back more emotion.
As soon as we're alone, Roberto kisses me again. His lips are gentle but demanding, and finally, he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.
"You shouldn't have taken that fucking bullet,Bellissima. I was ready to die for you."
His tone is so quiet, and I can practically feel the residual terror in it.
"So dramatic," I scoff, shaking my head and rubbing our noses together. "I told you I was there to keep you safe, and I did. I regret nothing. In fact, you owe me a thank you. How about it, Giovanni? Want to thank me?"
He picks up on my tease about the first time we met and pulls back to smirk at me. "You never thanked me for saving you from that horribly boring date."
"That's hardly comparable to saving yourlife," I point out.
He laughs and leans forward to whisper in my ear. "Fine. I'll thank you…later. When I can have you in a bed moaning my name and begging me for more."
I bite back a smile and kiss his cheek. "I was willing to disappoint my family for you. I'd give up anything for you and our baby. I hope you know that."
"I'd give up anything for you, too," he murmurs, looking at me lovingly. "Because I'm absolutely, hopelessly, obsessively fucking inlovewith you, Giulia Russo. I have been ever since you brought me to my knees that night we first met."
At that, I laugh and cry at the same time. “Damn winking mafioso. Just kiss me again."
"I love it when you're bossy. Coincidentally, it's all the time."
"Shut up."
"Anything for you, myBellissima.As long as you know that I'm keeping you."
I wouldn't have it any other way. A future with Roberto is everything I never knew I wanted.
Epilogue
Giulia
