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Frankie
We land in Boston and make our way quickly to the car that is sitting on the tarmac waiting for us. It is a different arrival than our last, and I have never been more grateful to get into the car safely than I am now.
Marco and I sit cuddled together in the back seat, and Jake is up front. We are quiet, still trying to process the last 48 hours. I have been close to danger all my life, but never before have I felt so close to death.
The car takes us directly to Marco’s family mansion where we were married just weeks earlier. The security around the place is just as intense as before, but deep down I know that there is no threat anymore, at least nothing serious.
Sebastian is in charge, and no harm will come to us now that both Enzo and Papa are gone. We are safe. I can breathe for the first time in a long time, although my heart is heavy at the price that was paid to get this feeling of safety.
The car pulls up to the front door of the mansion and Marco, Jake, and I step out of the car and stand looking at Marco’s family who have gathered at the door to greet us, their faces aghast. Looking at us, I realize we not only look exhausted, but all of us are still covered in blood. I'm sure my mascara has run, leaving large black smudges under my eyes, and Marco's hair is sticking up on every angle.
Out of the three of us Jake, is the only one who looks okay, aside from the blood on his clothes and body and the bruises on his face. He stands there strong, beside us, constantly ready to protect us, and he will do anything for Marco, and now me. I really need to find out more about this man who is Marco’s best friend.
Shaun races down the steps, followed quickly by Stephen and they encourage us to keep walking and get us inside the house. There are people, women here that I don’t know, and I realize that Marco’s entire family are here now. All the wives and girlfriends, Scarlett and Molly and even baby Baxter. I am looking at faces but my eyes are blank, not knowing where to look or who to go to.
“Diletto.” I hear softly off to the side of the foyer, and I turn around to see Alf and Sofia standing there, tears in their eyes. I run to them, tears burning in my eyes too, hands shaking and papa’s blood now dry on my clothes. Relief that they are here, that they are alive overtakes me. They both hug me, and I feel like this is how parents are meant to greet their children, and I melt, sobbing, into their warm embrace.
“Are you hurt?” Alf asks as he pulls away and looks me up and down, taking in my ghastly appearance with concerned eyes. I shake my head and then remember how beaten my face is and wince a little at my swollen features. My face resembles a boxer who has lost a fight, with my swollen eyes and bruised cheeks. Sofia touches me gently, and I hug her tightly. Pulling back, I am clutching to them both, not really wanting to let either of them go. They have understanding in their eyes, and I feel comforted that they are here with me.
“Whose blood is this Diletto?” Alf asks sternly, as he takes in my appearance. Understanding washes over me then that he doesn’t know, he doesn’t know where Sebastian is or what has happened. Sofia has a pained look in her eyes, waiting for the answer. You can hear a pin drop. Everyone in the foyer is looking at me, waiting for an explanation, any information about where we have been and what has happened.
“It’s papa’s,” I say, and I hear gasps behind me and feel Marco at my back and his hands cuddle me around the waist from behind. I lean back into his chest, needing comfort and support.
“Is it over, Diletto?” Alf asks, his eyes flicking from me to Marco and back. I know he wants to know if papa is dead. If our future is secure, or is papa still out there wanting our blood.
“It is over. Papa is dead. Sebastian is now head of the family,” I say, and both Alf and Sofia breathe out a sigh of relief and embrace me again. Along with relief, we all feel deep sorrow. This was not how it was meant to be. Despite all his failings, he was still my papa, and it hurts that it happened this way.
I feel Marco rubbing my back. “Let's get cleaned up and then we can come back out and talk with everyone,” he says gently. Marco hugs both Sofia and Alf and encourages them inside with Margaret, which warms my heart, and everyone starts moving.
The women in the room move quickly, taking Jake to one room to shower and provide fresh clothes for him and he gets a few hugs and backslaps from the men. Marco and I move to another room, where the bath is already full, and I smell the aroma of lavender which immediately relaxes me.
There are fresh warm towels ready for us to use, clean clothes and everything else we need to freshen up. While the rest of the family starts preparing food, drinks and getting things ready downstairs for us, Marco and I slowly undress, peeling our blood stained clothes away from our body, him helping me undress and supporting my swollen head in the process. Once naked, he picks me up, bridal style and steps into the large bath. He lowers us both into the hot water, and I submerge myself, grimacing as it hits my swollen face and cut lip and Marco pulls me up and cuddles me close to him.
“Baby... “Marco starts, and I look at him and see so much pain in his eyes. So much has happened these past few weeks; I hadn’t really thought about the impact on him. What he has seen, heard and now experienced is all new. Although I feel upset and impacted from all the events from the past few weeks, I have been around blood and death my entire life, while horrible, it isn’t as shocking to me.
I cup his cheek, and wait for him to continue, knowing that whatever he wants to say, he needs to get it out without interruption. Stroking his cheek with my thumb, I wait and he grips my other hand tight.
“I am so sorry I couldn’t protect you like I promised you I would. I am so sorry that your father took you while you were with me. I feel like I failed you as a husband, as your protector and as your…” I cut him off. I don’t want him to blame himself; this was not something that anyone could protect me from, it was always on the cards, even before I met Marco.
“You didn’t fail me Marco,” I say softly as I look at him deep into his eyes. “You saved me.” He looks at me confused and slightly shocked. “If it wasn’t for you, Marco, my life would be dark, colorless, loveless, it wouldn’t be a life. You came into my life and showed me what true love is.” I kiss him gently, trying to give him everything and in return he does the same. He pulls away slowly and caresses my face softly, trying to be gentle against my injuries.
“Let me take care of my wife,” he whispers and proceeds to soap up a washcloth and gently scrub my body, washing away all the blood, all the tears, and my past and although it is a simple act, it is significant and I start to feel reborn.
Marco - Six Months Later
“Stop, Prince, come back!” I yell as I run after my loveable golden dog as he sprints across the park, galloping toward an older woman walking a small Chihuahua.
“Oh my god, she has ice cream!” Frankie says beside me as we both run as fast as we can before he knocks the older lady over.
I manage to grab his lead as it flies in the wind behind him and pull him to a stop just as we meet her. Panting, both Frankie and I look at her, ready to apologize as she bends down to pat Prince.
“Hello, boy,” she says as she scruffs his neck. Prince loves affection, curling up with Frankie at home every chance he gets now that she lives with us and we have taken full custody of him.
But like we are wired together, Frankie and I gasp at the same time because we can see what is going to happen before it does, but we are both powerless to stop it. Time stands still as Prince puts his head up while the old lady is bending over and in one chomp, takes her ice cream cone out of her hand and swallows it whole. I groan and run my hand over my face.
“Prince! Bad boy!” Frankie growls at him, and he sits still beside me, not one ounce of guilt on his face as his tongue darts in and out licking his lips of any remnants.
“I’m so sorry,” Frankie apologizes to the lady who simply huffs and walks away.
