Page 272 of The Devil's Fire

“Antonio told me you never left my side at the hospital.” I smirked.

“He must have confused me with someone else.”

My jaw hung open, and he pulled down his hoodie over his face, shooing me away so he could pretend to sleep.

I took a quick shower before we landed and got ready since we would drive directly to Damiano’s family home. My nerves kicked in, and my stomach felt like a tangled mess as I struggled to decide on an outfit. I wanted to give a good impression.

“Is this fine? Am I showing too much skin?” I asked Damiano.

I had slipped into a stunning nude midi dress with ruched details and an asymmetrical hem. It added a touch of sophistication, and the single sleeve lent it an alluring charm, leaving my other arm gracefully bare.

“You look absolutely beautiful.” Damiano smiled, pulling me into him by my waist, a tender admiration in his eyes.

“Thank you.” I placed a quick kiss on his lips. “Are you sure I’m not showing too much skin?”

“No, you’re fine. You’re overthinking this.” He chuckled.

“Well, I don’t want your Nonna telling me I’m going to hell for showing too much skin!” I tried to convey the seriousness of the situation. Then I gasped. “She can never know I’ve spread my legs for you before marriage. She will surely tell me I’ll burn for eternity! What if -”

Damiano stopped my rambling by squeezing my cheeks together with his hand, making my lips pout.

“My love, you will be fine. More than fine because you’re you. You have a way to make people love you.”

“Do you think so?” It came out muffled.

“I know they will love you. Come, it’s time to go.” He held my hand, and I took a deep breath as we made our way out of the jet.

This was it.

I was meeting his family.

When we stopped right in front of a beautiful estate, my nerves kicked in full force. I had to remind myself to breathe.

“This way.” Damiano led me to the garden, and that was when I heard voices getting closer. “Stay behind me.” He smiled at me as we rounded the corner.

“Dio mio, Damiano!”

I heard gasps and sounds of excitement, making me smile at their reaction to him.

“My beautiful son is back.” His mother spoke in Italian and hugged him with tears in her eyes. It allowed me to see just how much they resembled each other.

Damiano embraced her back before she stepped away, and he greeted whom I assumed was his Nonna. His mother was smiling at him, and then she turned to look in my direction, only now realizing he had brought someone with him.

“Damiano?” She gasped and put her hand to her chest. His Nonna had the same reaction when she spotted me.

Damiano’s touch was tender as he clasped my hand, his lips curved into a gentle smile.

“Madre, Nonna. Meet Althaia, the love of my life.”

eighty-eight

Althaia

My heart thumped nervously in my chest, yet as I stole a glance at Damiano, a soft look and a smile graced my lips at how he introduced me.

The love of his life.

At that moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. The way he looked at me made everything else inconsequential.

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