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“Ravenna!” I roar at the top of my lungs.
The noise in the background of hysterical wailing and shouting comes to an abrupt halt, and dozens of eyes turn to stare at me. On the other side of the room, a partially hidden head of tangled black hair peeks its face from behind a table resting on its side.
“I’m okay,” Ravenna says and stands up.
Jesus fucking Christ. She seems unharmed, but I need to assure myself. I rush toward her, not minding the people in my way. The instant I reach Ravenna, I grab her under her arms, lifting her over the table to set her in front of me. As her feet touch the ground, I run my palms down her arms and front, then turn her around, examining her back.
“Alessandro,” she mumbles.
“Did any of the glass hit you?” I ask as I’m scanning the back of her head. “Let me see your legs.”
“I’m fine.”
I turn her to face me and kneel, going over her shins with my hands. Only after I’ve checked her out completely will I be able to draw a fucking breath. I lift her left foot and remove her shiny black heel. Maybe a shard has gotten inside.
“There is nothing in my shoe, Alessandro.”
I shake my head and move to her other heel, taking it off as well, then glide my palm over her sole. When I’m done with my inspection, and the fact that she’s unharmed finally penetrates my brain, my hands start shaking. A strange sensation washes over me, a myriad of different emotions. It feels like someone has just emptied a full magazine of high-caliber bullets right into my chest. Fear and anger. Relief. Guilt.
The walls of my stone fortress quake like never before, the thundering rumble filling my mind.She could have died.The thunder rolls, the sound so powerful that I’m convinced I can feel its vibrations in my bones.I could have lost her.
I picture Ravenna, her blood-covered body lying atop shards of glass on the floor. If I wasn’t already on my knees, I’m certain I’d be now. The bloodthirsty beast yearning for retribution screams in anguish, retracting its claws as the eight-year-long hold slips. What’s left of my revenge fortress shudders, its once-mighty stones falling apart before finally exploding into a cloud of fine dust.
“Alessandro?” Ravenna’s hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly.
I wrap my arms around her legs and lean my forehead on her waist, pulling her to me. The next time I set my eyes on that son of a bitch Popov, I’m going to fucking annihilate him.
The sounds of crying and moaning around us finally register on me. Along with the suffering, I catch the low murmurs of Ravenna’s name along with mine. It hasn’t been more than five minutes since someone shot at them, and people have already started to gossip. They all can go to hell.
I feel a touch on my cheek as Ravenna takes my face between her palms and tilts my head up. “I thought you said you were leaving.”
Yes, I was. Until I heard those gunshots and imagined one hitting her. I’m taking her with me, and if ensuring she’s safe means I have to let someone else kill Rocco fucking Pisano, so be it.
“We are.” I rise and scoop her into my arms, pressing my mouth to hers.
Ravenna’s arms lock tightly around my neck as she returns my frantic kiss, sharing my air. I squeeze her even tighter to my chest.
Gasps and shouts ring out around us, but I tune them out, completely focused on Ravenna in my arms.
“I love you, Ravi,” I say into her lips. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come to my senses. If you want me to kneel down in front of you here and ask for your forgiveness, I will. Just please, come with me.”
“Always.” She tightens her hold around my neck. “And anywhere.”
I kiss her again, turning toward the driveway. People with shocked expressions on their faces watch us as I navigate between the scattered furniture and glass, right through the shattered sunroom walls to my parked car on the driveway. They’re all shaking heads and murmuring among themselves, but I don't give a fuck.
When we reach his car, Alessandro places me on the passenger seat and takes off his suit jacket, putting it around my shoulders.
“We should have taken your coat.” He adjusts the sides of the jacket so they cover my chest. It seems as if he’s obsessed with keeping me warm.
“I’m fine.” I reach out and lightly stroke his cheek.
Alessandro nods then walks around the hood, getting behind the wheel, but instead of starting the car, he leans forward and cups my face with his palm.
“Are you sure about this, Ravi?”
His eyes search mine as if he’s expecting me to refute my earlier conviction. I know he needs to kill Rocco, and I don’t care how many people will be after us when he does. I would go with him to the ends of the earth.
“Yes,” I breathe.
