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He smiles and is quiet for the rest of the drive home. When we reach our destination, the car has barely stopped when I see Tori marching out of the house. A nanny follows, holding Roman.
Ivan steps out of the car. “She’s fine.”
I climb out after him, and Tori grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug. “I thought we’d lost you. I felt so bad.”
“I’m fine, really. In fact, more than fine. We have sent a message that we, as a family, are not to be messed with.” I hug her tightly but then feel a pang of immense guilt. “Luigi…”
Tori nods, looking worried. “I’m leaving now. He’s in emergency surgery at an actual hospital, so I know Alessandro thinks the shot is bad, but that boy is probably the most stubborn of us.”
“Impossible,” my father mutters as he leaves to take Roman from the nanny.
I squeeze Tori’s hands. “He got shot because of me. He was protecting me.”
She shakes her head. “There is no blame in what we do. There are actions and consequences, but if you let everything get to you personally and allow it to take root in your heart, then instead of spending a lifetime ruling an empire, you’ll spend a few years bitterly getting revenge before someone gets to you first.”
I look at her, surprised, and she laughs. “I don’t just do the legal things for this family. I do rule beside your father. And one day, it will be yours, and I know you will do an excellent job.”
I beam at her. “You may not replace my mother, but you are my best friend.”
Chapter 28 - Luigi
Everything fucking hurts.
I groan out loud. My mouth tastes like a rat's ass. It’s dry and funky, and I just want to wet my lips. I blink a few times, and thankfully, the lights in the room I’m in are dimmer than expected. I groan again and hear someone whisper, “He’s awake. Get the nurse.”
“Luigi? Luigi, it’s Kira. Tori is here as well. Can you speak?”
“Water,” I gasp out. I feel something near my lips, and Tori says, “It’s a straw, you damsel-saving moron, sip. Sip, not too fast.”
I sip the water, and I open my eyes. They watch me as I slowly come to and look around. “Where the fuck am I?”
“Watch your language, Mr. Sorvino,” A stern-looking nurse says as she steps next to my bed. “This isn’t the backwater clinic house you normally go to. You’re at the hospital, and you’re going to mind your manners. Right?”
“Yes, sister,” I say, confused.
When she leaves, Tori and Kira both burst out laughing. Kira smiles and says, “That’s what you get for nearly dying on us, you jerk.”
She squeezes my hand. The name-calling was something we did when Mama died. It was a way we dealt with the pain. Masking it with teasing.
“You’re the chop,” I say quietly. “Where’s the nice hospital food? Why are you letting me starve?”
Kira rolls her eyes. “How can you wake up, and the first thing you think about is food?”
“Actually, the first thing I thought about was Ana…” I look at Tori. “Is she…”
“She’s fine. She killed both Killian and Mateo and is fine. She worries about you and is constantly calling for updates.”
Kira snorts, “Food and women, this man is a Sorvino.”
“Hey, don’t treat it like an insult. We know what we want,” Dominic says from the doorway. He wanders in and stands at the foot of my bed with Frankie. Arianna stands beside Tori, and Kira moves so Alessandro can stand to my right.
“Glad you didn’t die, moron,” Arianna says, leaning down to kiss my head. “Although the older generation nearly did.”
I look guiltily at Alessandro. “I had to save her.”
“There will be consequences for defying me,” he says coolly. “But that will be for when you’re out of hospital.”
I smile. “I know, but she’s worth it.”
