17. Luca

Niko has disrespected me in my own home. In front of my staff. I'm well within my right to kill him here and now. But I don't. Only because of Aria. Who the hell knows what she endured. I won't kill her brother in front of her.

"Mind yourself, Don Leone. You're in my home?—"

"Fuck you. She's my sister, and I'm taking her home."

"I never said you couldn't take her home." But God, while she's here in my house, I'm going to pull out all the stops to encourage her to stay. My heart nearly stopped when I thought she might be dying. What would be the point of all this without her by my side?

"Look at her, Niko. She's in no condition to travel. Or is this about your ego? Do you really care for her? If you do, let her heal, for God's sake."

His jaw tightens, and he pushes past me.

Roberta is propping Aria up.

"Get the doctor," I tell her in Italian. She nods but first hands Aria a glass of water.

Aria's eyes are glassy, and yet, I see fear in them.

"You're safe," I tell her. I want to lie next to her, hold her, but I don't have a right. She was leaving me, and so, while it goes against my nature, I step back and let Niko comfort her.

"What happened?" Niko sits on the edge of the bed.

"I was taken at the airport." She glances up at me, and I don't know how to respond. I hate that she was leaving, so I can't smile. "His name was Sabini?—"

"He's dead. As are all of his men." It's a fucking mess, too. I'm spending a fortune on law enforcement to cover up the violent rampage. My men are whooshing to take over his business and deal with anyone who thinks they can stop me.

The doctor enters, and Niko rises to give him access to check Aria. When he first examined her, he told me she'd been sedated quite a bit and she was dehydrated, but after rest and IV rehydration, she'd recover physically.

"When can she travel?" Niko demands.

The doctor glances at me over his shoulder. He starts to speak Italian, but I stop him. "Don Leone speaks Italian, but Aria does not." Mostly, I don't want him thinking that by speaking Italian, Niko won't understand him in case he says something I wouldn't want Niko to hear. But also, Aria should know what is being said.

"She's weak. She needs food, fluids, and rest. A week."

I arch a brow.

"Actually, she could use two weeks. She'll need to regain her strength."

Roberta returns with a tray of food. She sets it on the table until the doctor is finished with Aria's checkup.

"Will there be lasting effects from the drugs?" I ask.

"Shouldn't be." The doctor stands.

"Grazie." I nod my appreciation to him. He nods back.

In Italian, I ask Roberta to prepare lunch for Niko.

"I'm not hungry," he says.

"Aria needs her rest. I'm showing you great respect you don't deserve by letting you stay in my home after you've disrespected me over and over?—"

"When it comes to Aria, I don't give a shit?—"

"It's only because of Aria that I'm putting up with it, but there are limits."

His eyes flash with hatred. "Don't you threaten me."

"I'll remind you that you're in my country, in my home. You don't have to like me, but you will respect me and follow my rules, as I did for you in your country." Hell, I put Aria in my guest room instead of my room, although admittedly, that was less out of respect for Niko as it was respect for Aria since she planned to leave. "You'll leave this room now. I want a moment with Aria."

I glance at her because I have threatened Niko. It probably isn't going to endear me to her. But I won't put up with his disrespect. Not in my house. Not in front of my woman.

"Go, Niko. I'm fine," Aria says weakly.

I feel triumphant that she's supporting my request. I watch Niko expectantly.

He glares at me. "When you're recovered, we're leaving here, Aria. I promise." He leaves, and the tension in the room drops by several degrees.

"I'll help her with lunch," I say to Roberta, dismissing her.

Finally, we're alone, and I sit next to Aria on the bed. It's all I can do not to gather her close. But I can't not touch her.

"Mio Angelo." My hand caresses her cheek. She closes her eyes, leaning into me. It's like a gift.

Tears run down her cheeks, and I can't resist. I wrap her in my arms. "I'm so sorry." I kiss her head and wish I could take back everything that brought her pain. I want to ask her why she ran off, but now is not the time to hash out such things.

"How long have I been… asleep?"

"You've been in and out for a few days. You had IV fluids, but mostly, we've let you rest." I think she's shaking, but then I realize it's me. I feel like I'm coming apart, but I need to hold it together for her.

"That man called Niko. I tried to let him know that it was Sabini, not you?—"

"I know. It's okay. Niko doesn't like me, but he knows how I feel about you."

She glances up at me, and I see questions in her eyes. I kiss her gently. "You're okay now, Aria."

"Has Niko been here long?"

Is she already thinking of leaving again?

"He arrived the day we found you."

She settles her head against me, and I feel like maybe I have a chance to put all this right. Except I'm not quite sure where I went wrong except, of course, the ultimatum.

"I'm sorry I just left. I didn't think. Niko's right, I'm too immature and impulsive."

"I think you're perfect, Mio Angelo."

She looks up at me, and for the first time in too long, I see the woman I fell for the moment I met her. "You do?"

"Yes, why do you think I want to marry you? But I will say that you should recognize that here, as in New York, you need to take greater caution."

She nods. I want to ask her if she's going to stay, but I find I'm too much of a coward.

The door opens and Roberta pokes her head in. "Scusa, Don Conte." In Italian, she tells me the doctor has left a prescription and that Niko wants to talk to me.

I kiss Aria again and then rise. "You need to eat and rest."

Roberta brings the tray of food to Aria, setting it in her lap.

"I'll be back later."

She nods, giving me a wan smile.

I step out of the room and Niko is waiting. Tension radiates off him in waves. "I know you plan to make her stay?—"

"Unlike you, Niko, I don't have to kidnap or coerce a woman to make her stay." Okay, so my ultimatum and seduction might be manipulative, but he kidnapped his wife.

"You don't know what you're talking about. My wife—" He stops. "The point is, Conte, she wants to go home. If not for Sabini, she'd be home. You know that."

I cross my arms and study him. "Would you have forged an alliance with him? Killed me for him?"

"I will do anything to protect my sister."

"I would too. But Sabini would be dead before I killed you."

"And yet, you're threatening me in front of my sister."

I sigh. "I understand that tradition doesn't mean anything to American Mafia. Perhaps that's why so many Bosses have lost their power."

"Traditional has nothing to do with this."

"Respect does."

He shakes his head. "You disrespected me by making my sister run away."

I laugh. "She's a grown woman who decided what she wanted. Is that what irks you? She wants me instead of staying with you?"

His jaw tightens. "What irks me is your taking advantage of her."

I tense and straighten. "I've done no such thing. Yesterday would have been our wedding day."

His eyes widen in surprise but then narrow. "No. Because she decided to come home. I'm staying until I can do that. Now, I'm going to talk to my sister."

He pushes past me, and I want to stop him. I'd like to punch him and toss him out of my home. But for Aria's sake, I don't.

As the door shuts behind him, I pray to my parents' God that Aria will stand strong against her brother. That she'll let me make amends to her and decide to stay with me. That she'll marry me and give my life purpose.