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The door creaks open, and Liam appears. "Doc's on his way. Until then, Lucia's playing nurse for Donovan."
I can't help but smirk at the image, picturing Donovan's smug face, even beneath the haze of pain.
"He'll be in heaven," I muse aloud, thinking how the tough-as-nailscapohas a soft spot for Lucia, despite the fact that she’s married and clearly dislikes him.
Elena tilts her head. "Why would he love that?"
"Because he’s smitten.”
Liam barks out a laugh, the sound echoing against the walls. "Must be a masochist, then, because Lucia clearly can't stand him."
Elena's lips twitch into a smile. “She seemed worried about him. And… well… Giuseppe died.”
“What?” I ask.
“Today, or maybe it was yesterday. I’m confused about the time. You know, he was good to her. It sounds like they were close companions.”
“I’m sorry for her loss,” I say.
“I wonder what Luca is doing?” Liam says.
Elena glances at me. “You know them?”
I nod. “Yes. Not well, but enough to be on good terms.”
“I have the start of the paperwork you asked for. I just need to know where Elena wants to go.”
She threads her arm through mine. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Liam arches a brow.
“We’re all going to the compound as soon as Donovan can travel. Elena and Lucia too, unless she needs to get back to Italy… although…?”
“She’s staying for now. Luca said she’s still a part of the Family, but until things settle down after the Don’s death, he says she should stay here.”
Liam looks between the two of us and shrugs.
"We're pulling back to the compound. We’ll give Giovanni a moment to think he’s won and then bring him down."
Liam's eyes flicker with surprise. Restraint isn't my usual MO.
"Regroup, then?" he asks.
"Exactly. Then we remove the scum from the earth.”
"Understood."
“I’ll be down in a bit,” I tell him.
He nods and disappears, leaving Elena and me alone once more.
“You’re okay with that, aren’t you?” Her voice, soft yet certain, wraps around me.
"Absolutely." It's the truth. Not that I’m not itching to kill Giovanni, but I like the idea of catching him off-guard. Like I did with Tiberius.
“Good.”
My chest swells with pride. I've underestimated her resilience, but I’m seeing now that she’s going to be a formidable partner in life. With her, I’m going to be stronger, but also happier, even as I’m aware that my love for her will make me vulnerable. So will the children.
