My whole body jolted out of bed, my breathing labored. I struggled to catch my breath, my eyes darting around looking for anyone lurking in the dark.
“Shhh. It’s okay; I’m here.” Luciano’s voice penetrated through the fog and his face came into focus. “You need to rest.”
He watched me with love, his hands gently wrapped around me. Am I dreaming?
“Matteo?” I rasped out, my voice cracking. “Ella?”
“Ella is safe; she’s with Massimo. Matteo’s safe,” he whispered. “I just checked on him. Our son is safe.”
I blinked my eyes. Our son.
“Roberto is dead, so are his father and grandmother. Matteo is safe; so are you.” He leaned forward and placed a kiss on my lips. “I love you, Grace Vitale.”
I love you too. But words refused to leave my mouth. So much has happened since we first met. So many ugly words and memories. My chest felt tight, like someone pressed on it with weights.
As if he could read my thoughts, Luciano reached out and took my hand into his.
“Please, Luciano-”
He stopped me. “Please, Grace. Don’t leave me.”
My eyes flared, trying to understand what he was saying but my brain was too slow.
“I fucked up when I doubted you and put a gun to your head.” I flinched at the memory. “It was empty, but that doesn’t justify it.”
“Empty?” I whispered, my voice shaking.
“Yes, I emptied all the bullets. The gun was empty.” He lifted my hand to his mouth. “Grace Vitale, I love you. I loved you back then, and I love you now.”
“You do?” I rasped.
“I do,” he confirmed. “I was blind and furious, thinking you chose your uncle over me. I was blind, not seeing the real you, but I still loved you. I wanted all of you. There hasn’t been a woman for me since you left.”
I must have looked stunned because he continued.
“I swear on my mother’s and sister’s graves,” he croaked. “The gun was empty when I pulled the trigger, and I haven’t had another woman in my bed. I tried; I won’t lie. But all I could see and smell was you. It made me sick to be with any woman so I gave up and searched the world for you.”
The room went silent, his confession heavy in the air. I loved him too but fear held me back.
“The gun was empty?”
“Yes.” His forehead leaned against mine. “You are my life, Grace. I was an asshole. Your words, telling me you loved me, didn’t sink in till I sat in our bedroom that night, alone in the dark. But those words will forever be part of me, engraved in my heart and soul.”
I wanted another chance with him. Didn’t I? I wanted my happily ever after, my own fairy tale.
I stared up into his hazel eyes, that always pulled me in. The eyes that I lost myself again and again. The eyes of our son.
“There hasn’t been anyone else for me either,” I told him, my admission raw. It made me feel vulnerable. “I love you,” I whispered.
Our mouths connected and our kiss was desperate, his lips devouring me like I was his oxygen. Eventually, Luciano pulled back, both of us breathing heavily.
“My wife.” Yes, I was his wife. He was my everything. “My strong, brave wife.”
“I don’t know about that,” I muttered. “I was scared. Both Ella and I were.”
I thought back to the struggles as we roamed Europe, worries about Matteo, hiding from him and my family. Were they wasted years? For naught?
“You are brave, and I don’t deserve you.” He took my face between his hands, his lips brushing against the tip of my nose. “But I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You gave me a son, named him after my father, even after I fucked up majorly.”
“I loved you,” I told him simply. “And I still do. I didn’t betray you; I’ll never betray you. But I can understand your anger. My family cost you a lot.”
“But that wasn’t your debt to pay.”
I had to agree with him there. “Fresh start,” I murmured.
“Yes, fresh start,” he agreed.
“I have to tell you one more thing.” We might as well lay it all on the table. He waited, tense. “I have been laundering money. I won’t do it anymore, but you should probably know. Just in case some shit follows when I give my notice. Though to be honest, I kind of liked it.” I peered at him through my lashes. “I wouldn’t mind continuing it, as my little side hustle. Maybe we will become competitors.”
His booming laugh filled the room, and I wondered what was so funny.
“I know, my little Ghost. Because I’m the Ruthless King.”
My eyes widened at his admission. “What?”
“I just found out you were the Ghost a few days ago.” He pressed a feather light kiss against my mouth. “My little criminal.”
My lips curved into a smile against his. “I had the best teacher.”
