chapter 43

ToriRunning down an empty stretch of road, shadows darken as they creep toward me. I open my mouth to scream, but there’s no sound. Pressure builds around me, and it feels like I’m being chased, but I can’t see anyone. Intense loneliness engulfs me, and suddenly, I’m wearing a wedding dress. Black ink slowly spreads up from the seam of the dress, and my body feels heavier and heavier as I try to walk. The ink reaches my neck, and I gasp for air as I stare up at the black sky. Unable to open my mouth, my panic and fear become so intense it feels like I’m being strangled.“Noooo!” I slam into something hard as I startle awake. My breaths are nothing more than gasps.“I’ve got you,” Angelo’s voice rumbles above my head. Oh, God. No! As I realize I slammed into Angelo’s chest, and I feel his arms around me, all the terror and trauma come rushing back. Maurizio telling me how my corpse will be eaten by worms.The struggle on the balcony before falling over the railing. Maurizio’s fingers grasping at my dress. The sickening thud. Seeing his body broken over a boulder. The fear of falling to my death and the struggle to pull myself onto the balcony. The fear of being stopped as I escaped the villa. The terror of running away from Angelo. Darting into traffic to escape Angelo. Him grabbing hold of me.“Are you–” Instinctively, I try to scramble away from him as a cry tears from my throat. “Baby!” His hold on me tightens as I frantically push against his chest, but not being able to break free, I resort to begging, “P-please. It w-was an accident. P-please, Angelo.” He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me. He’d going to kill me. The devastating thought has me pushing and straining to escape his tight hold.Keeping an arm locked around me, he uses his other hand to grip hold of my chin. “Open your eyes, Vittoria. Look at me!” As I grab hold of his wrist, my eyes pop open, and the second I see his face, I start to sob uncontrollably.Letting out a growl, he hugs me so tight it hurts. “Christ, I’m so fucking sorry I left you with them. I’m here. You’re safe. I’ve got you, baby.” Still feeling scared, his words start getting through to me, and I begin to cry uncontrollably. My body slumps in his hold as a sliver of relief drains all my strength from me. “An-ge-lo,” I sob, my shoulders shuddering from the terrible weight I had to carry. “I-I’m ssorry.”“Jesus Christ,” he groans as if he’s in physical pain. I’m pulled onto his lap, and he peppers my face with kisses. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I know you didn’t kill my uncle, and you ran because you were scared. It’s okay. I’m not angry.” Angelo keeps pressing kisses everywhere, his arms steel bands of safety around me. The trauma from the past couple of days has me sobbing against his chest. “Boss?” I hear Big Ricky’s voice. “Get sugar water!” Angelo snaps. Time warps around me as the traumatic events keep rattling through my mind. Suddenly, a glass is pushed against my lips. “Drink, baby.”I manage to take a few sips before a sob shudders through me. I’m forced to drink more of the sweet water, then the glass disappears, and Angelo rocks me in a comforting way. “I’m here, mia piccola cerviatta. You’re safe.”Lost sobs quiver over my lips, and my fear and panic ease enough for me to think clearly. It’s only then I realize I’m in our bedroom and I’m wearing one of Angelo’s shirts. He takes hold of my jaw and nudges my head back so he can see my face. When our eyes lock, my mouth begins to tremble.“Better?” he asks softly. There’s so much worry on his face it can easily be mistaken for rage.“I’m s-sorry,” I whimper.He shakes his head. “It’s okay, baby.” His palm brushes over my cheek in such a loving way tears spiral from my eyes again. Lowering his head, he presses a tender kiss to my trembling lips. His gaze locks with mine again before he says, “I was so fucking worried about you. How do you feel?” How do I feel? Shook to my core, I feel stuck in a pit of despair. I feel a little lost. Lifting my arm, I grab hold of his shoulder. I pull myself up, and when I bury my face against his neck, I cling to him with all my strength. His hand brushes up and down my back, as he just holds me for a while. “Christ, baby, you’re breaking my heart,” he groans as his arms tighten around me. “Please talk to me.”Gone is the man who orders me to use my words. Gone is the ruthless man who terrifies the living crap out of me. Wrapped up in my husband's strong arms, a sense of safety settles over me. “I thought I lost you,” I whimper, my voice hoarse and as vulnerable as I feel. “I thought you were going to kill me.”“Never,” he growls. “Never, mia piccola cerviatta. Mia raggio di sole.” Hearing him call me his little dear and ray of sunshine helps ease more tension from my body. He pulls back so he can see my face, and with his fingers wrapping around the side of my neck, he looks at me with so much tenderness it makes me feel super emotional. His voice is gentle as he says, “I’ll never harm a hair on your body. You’re my everything.” I grip hold of his wrist as my face crumbles again. My breaths quiver over my lips. “It all happened so fast. I didn’t know what to do.” “If anything ever happens again, the first thing you do is call me, Vittoria. Never run from me.” “I panicked,” I say, my voice filled with tears. “I know, baby.” He lowers his head and kisses me again. “I should’ve left Big Ricky with you. You’ll never be alone again. One of us will always watch over you.” I nod frantically because I’ll never trust anyone again. With Angelo, Tiny, or Big Ricky, I’ll be safe. They’ll keep people away from me. My face crumbles again as I cry, “I w-was s-so s-scared.”“Oh, baby,” Angelo groans, his arms tightening around me again. “I’m so fucking sorry.” Crying in the safety of Angelo’s strong arms, exhaustion floods my body, and no amount of resistance keeps me from falling asleep.