Then all at once the words fly out of my mouth. “YOU DID WHAT? What the fuck am I going to do when he kills you, Giovanni? Did you think about that? Shit, we need to leave. I’m sure he was being nice by letting you live this long, but surely he’s going to murder you soon. We can go—”
Gio presses a hard but chaste kiss on my lips, stalling my next words.
“I’m not leaving you ever again,cuore mio. Even if you want me to, I won’t. I need to protect you. As for Bash, he has forgiven me, but some groveling will be necessary before he lets it go 100 percent.”
“How?” I whisper.
“Matt and Lo were the only ones there. I had a brief moment of insanity. He understands.”
I pull him closer and press my lips to his. “As soon as I feel better, you will tell me everything, but right now, I don’t have the energy to handle it. Lie down with me?” I ask shyly.
“I will always lie with you. I’m yours forever, Isabella. Never question it. Anything you want, it’s yours. I would betray Bash a million times over if you asked. My love for you outweighs my life and loyalty to others. You will always come first. Fuck the family.”
“We can’t leave, Gio. I know I said a couple of minutes ago we could, but Mia and Sofia are my family. Matt’s the brother I always wanted. Hell, Lo and Bash have even started to feel more like siblings than the nuisance they once were. I appreciate you putting me first, but I understand it now. The family back then isn’t the family now. I love you, Giovanni Catalini. I will never leave you again.”
“I love you so much that when you’re not with me, each breath in my chest is painful. When you’re with me, my heart beats contentedly, happy for the chance to share the space with you. It has always been you, Isabella Dellaco. Always will be. You have owned my heart since the first moment I laid eyes on you. Even then, I knew you would irrevocably change my life.”
“Yeah, right. I was awkward and shy.”
He brushes his hand across my face. “You were just as beautiful then as you are now. The awkwardness you hint at came across as being down-to-earth. You didn’t give a rat’s ass who I was or which designer released the next best bag. That’s what drew me to you. It’s why I still love you. You are your own person. There is no one else out there like you.”
“Stop being charming and lie down. You promised you were mine, which means you must obey me.”
He chuckles. “Obey? You’re pushing it, but for now, I will let it slide.”
As he slides in next to me and settles on his back, I move over and lay my head on his chest.
“I owe you an apology, Gio.”
“For what?”
“The fight we had before Fillipo’s attack. I was scared.”
“I know, sweetheart, and you don’t owe me an apology. It’s just something we will have to figure out to navigate with time.”
“I love you, Gio.”
“I love you forever and always,cuore mio.”
Giovanni
The next morning Izzy and I head down to the kitchen for breakfast after a good night’s sleep with zero interruptions. We find Nonna Rosa bustling around.
“Oh, Isabella! You’re awake!” Nonna Rosa proclaims, tossing her rag on the counter and scurrying around the counter to give Iz a big hug. “I was so worried about you, bella,” she murmurs while holding Isabella’s face and looking her in the eye. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m good, I promise. But I could use some of your famous cinnamon rolls if you have any,” Iz teases.
I watch Nonna visibly soften. “Of course I do, bella. Go sit in the dining room, and I will bring them in in a minute.” Nonna Rosa ushers us out of the kitchen.
“Good morning to you too, Nonna,” I tell her, trying to sound put out over being ignored.
“Yes, yes, good morning to you as well, Giovanni. Don’t think I don’t know about you not sleeping in your room last night. We will be having a discussion later.” She raises a brow.
“Come on,amore, let’s go sit,” I tell Iz, ignoring Nonna’s pointed look.
Once in the dining room, we find everyone already seated, leaving two chairs between Bash and Matt open for Isabella and myself. Everyone stands when we enter, coming over to give Isabella hugs. Once everyone makes their way back to their seats, I pull out Isabella’s chair then seat myself. Nonna comes in right then.
We all enjoy a comfortable breakfast with random catch up. As soon as Bash sets his napkin on the table, we all know idle chitchat is over.
