27. Gia

Iwake in a daze.

At first, I have no idea where I am. There's a sharp, antiseptic smell, and when I move my hands, the fabric under them feels rough. At least, compared to what I'm used to.

I blink, trying to clear my vision. The lights above me are bright, glaring, and I reach up to press a hand over my eyes. There's movement to my right, and I feel a large, warm hand suddenly covering mine.

Startled, I push myself up—or I try to, anyway. My body hurts, my head aches, and I mostly want to go back to sleep.

"Tesoro. Gia." A familiar voice cuts through the fog, and I blink again, rubbing my hand over my face. When I lower it, my heart squeezes in my chest.

I'm in a hospital bed, I realize. In a hospital room. I feel a sting in my arm, and realize there's an IV there. But none of that matters, because sitting in a stiff leather chair next to me, his hand gripping mine, is Salvatore.

My husband.

He stands up suddenly, leaning over me, and both of his hands are on my face as he kisses me fiercely. I gasp, my mouth opening without thinking, and I hear him groan—a sound of near-relief as he cups my face in his hands and kisses me as if he thought he'd never see me again.

When he breaks the kiss, he stares down at me, his hands still pressed to my face. "Gia."

"You're alive," I breathe, blinking past the sudden burn of tears behind my eyes. "You're not dead."

Salvatore looks at me confusedly. "No, I'm not dead."

"Pyotr said you were dead." Most of what happened feels foggy, as if I can barely recall huge chunks of it, but I remember that. I remember how it felt when he said it, how hard it was to hold onto hope that he was lying. But Salvatore is here, in front of me, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not dreaming.

Salvatore's jaw tightens. "He's the one who's dead."

Shock cuts through me, but there's no sadness, only relief. If he's dead, then he can never hurt us again. His father is still a problem, and no doubt will continue to be unless he died too, but all I can think is that Pyotr is gone. He'll never touch me again. He'll never try to hurt me, or Salvatore, or our child. "You're sure?" I whisper, and Salvatore nods tightly.

"I killed him myself."

I close my eyes, a sob of relief bursting out, and I feel tears drip down my cheeks. Salvatore squeezes my hand, his fingers gently brushing my cheek.

"Shh, tesoro. There's no need to cry."

I open my eyes again, swallowing hard. "I thought I might never see you again."

Salvatore's face darkens at that. He sits down, carefully, on the edge of the bed, his palm pressed against my cheek. "I thought I lost you, Gia," he says softly. "And I thought I had lost my chance to tell you how I felt for you. I don't want to make that mistake again."

My pulse leaps, my heart beating a little faster in my chest. "And what did you want to say?" I whisper, my eyes meeting his.

His fingers stroke along my jaw, brushing my lower lip, a look of such utter tenderness on his face that it takes my breath away. "I love you, Gia," he murmurs. "I should have said it before this, but I won't make the mistake of not saying it as often as I can, now that I have. I love you. And I'm so grateful you're still here with me."

Fresh tears spill over, rolling down my cheeks as I look up at him. "I love you too," I whisper. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Salvatore gives me a small, thin smile. "Me, too."

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you about the danger," I say softly. "I should have. I understand you were telling the truth now."

"I know, tesoro." His hand covers mine. "It took time for you to see it. And I can understand why."

I swallow hard, trying to speak through the tears. Everything I feel rushes up at once, feelings that I never thought I could have but that all feel right, now, as if it should have always been this way. "I didn't think you could be the one for me," I whisper. "But you've shown me over and over that you are a good husband, Salvatore. That you'll protect me, that that's all you've ever tried to do. I trust you. I love you. And I'm sorry it took this long."

He grips my hand gently, leaning in to kiss me, his fingers brushing the side of my face. "We're here now, tesoro," he murmurs against my mouth. "That's all that matters. You, and me, and our child."

I blink up at him, hope surging in my chest. "The baby's okay? You're sure?"

Salvatore nods. "Our baby is just fine. The nurses don't think you'll have any complications. All you need is rest, and then we can go home soon."

Tears of relief flood my eyes all over again, and I press my forehead to his, letting them go. We stay like that for a long moment, until I finally find the strength to wipe them away. Salvatore brushes a thumb over my cheek, his palm cupping my face gently.

"Sleep, tesoro," he says. "I'll stay here with you. And then we can go home."

—

It's three days before we're able to go home. Salvatore stays with me throughout it all, sending Josef home to get fresh clothes and showering in the small cubicle in my room. When the doctor finally gives me the all-clear, Salvatore hovers as I change, doing all he can to help. He doesn't want to be far from me, intensely protective, and where I once would have found it smothering, I now appreciate it.

He thought he lost me, and I thought I lost him. Neither one of us wants to be far from the other right now. And all I want is to be home with him, at last.

I sleep for most of the drive back out to the mansion. I wake to the car rolling to a stop in our courtyard, and I catch the moment that Salvatore's face relaxes, clearly relieved to be back.

"We're really safe?" I ask softly. "The threat is gone?"

Salvatore nods. "I don't think Igor will cross me, after this. Bella has gone back home to her family, and a large number of his men are dead. If he wants to make a move, he'll have to recover a good deal, first. But I don't believe he will. And he'll never again get to you, tesoro," he adds. "There will be no more alliances. Igor will go up against me if he wants revenge, and he'll regret it, if he tries."

"Thank you for coming after me." I sit up slowly, reaching out for him, looking at the handsome man across from me. It's hard to believe that not so long ago, I thought I hated him. Now, looking at him, I can't think of anyone I love more in the world.

"I would do anything to keep you safe, Gia." Salvatore pushes open the door, helping me out into the sunlight, his arm around my waist. "I always will."

"I love you," I whisper, turning towards him, and he tips my chin up, his lips brushing softly against mine. He holds me there, in the warm sun in front of our home, the safety of his arms encircling me as I feel all the fear vanish.

"I love you too, Gia Morelli." His hand slips into my hair, and he bends down, kissing me more firmly this time. And then, with one swift motion, he sweeps me into his arms, holding me against his chest as I squeak with surprise.

"What are you doing?" I ask, and Salvatore smiles down at me, a hint of mischievous humor in his grin.

"What I should have done a long time ago. Carrying my bride over the threshold of our home." He raises an eyebrow. "If that's alright with you, wife?"

"Always," I promise him, and I mean it.

I never could have seen it coming, but Salvatore is everything I want. Everything I could need.

My lover. My husband. My protector.

Now, and for the rest of our lives.