Page 85 of Forced Bratva Bride

Chiara’s radiant smile distracts me from the annoyance I am feeling towards Stefano. I don’t dislike the guy anymore, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like him, either.

He shot Chiara, he put her life in danger, and the fear of losing her is something I never thought I would feel. It is so intense, so deeply rooted, and it will take me a while to get over it.

“Stef, I also wanted to talk to you, actually,” Chiara says, gently maneuvering her body so that she can sit closer to him. “I wanted to say sorry for what my father did to you. I mean the way he used you and manipulated you, and also for the way he turned me against you. I just want to say that even with him gone now, you are still my brother. We are still family.”

Stefano shrugs. “I guess you can’t choose your family, hey?” he laughs. “But I don’t blame you for what your father did. I know he caused you a lot of hurt as well, and we were stuck in that situation together. We just didn’t know we had each other at the time.”

“My father did a lot, to your whole family. And he deserved what happened to him in the end. I never knew him; I accept that. The person who I thought I knew never actually existed. Stef, I hope you can forgive my family for what they did to yours.”

“We are family, Chiara. I have nothing that I'm holding against you.”

“Well, at least we aren’t going to start another revenge plot as twisted at Angelo’s,” I say, listening to the two of them talk. I don’t feel so possessive over Chiara when she talks to Stefano anymore. They are healing their relationship as brother and sister. An odd situation, some sort of forced sibling bond that neither of them feels used to yet, but Stefano has been treating her with a lot more respect, so I'm not as against having him around.

But he did still shoot her.

The chef brings out a tray of cocktails for the three of us.

“Are we supposed to drink on these pain meds?” I ask Chiara.

She laughs. “It’s the perfect day for a piña colada, and I think we all need a little relaxation, anyway.” She picks up her cocktail and takes a sip. “Stefano, with my father out of the picture, are you going to take over his business?”

“I'm not sure. I mean, the Napoli family name isn't exactly popular among our allies right now. I don’t know what I would be getting myself into if I started running the company again.”

“Your name was cleared in that recording I took. People know you aren’t associated with that asshole. You know the business. You're good at it.”

“I suppose. I probably will start meeting with the clients again, rebuilding those relationships. What about you, Maxim? Are we allies again?” Stefano raises his brows towards me.

“Hm,” I huff reluctantly. “I will have to think about it. I don’t know if I can be allies with a man who shot my wife.”

Chiara laughs lightheartedly. “Maxim, I told you, you have to let that go.”

“In my own time.” My eyes are piercing into Stefano and he drops his gaze away from me.

“I had better get going. I guess I have a lot of work to do if I want the business to pick up again. Chiara, I am sorry again, and Max, thank you. Honestly.”

Stefano stands up to leave and Chiara leans back against me. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer to me.

“You are going to have to forgive him for shooting me, Max.” She smiles up at me with her deep chocolate gaze that pulls me into her heart.

“Perhaps, but the thought that he caused you so much pain just pisses me off.”

“Max, I'm here with you, I am happy, and the pain isn’t so bad as long as you're next to me,” she giggles.

“I know what you mean. You're making this all a lot easier to deal with.” I grin down at her. “I promise you, I will be nicer to him in the future. I’ll do my best. Actually, everything is going to be better from now on. We got rid of the threat, we found out who was behind it all, and the danger is gone.”

She rests her head on my chest and closes her eyes. “Things are kind of perfect,” she whispers with a soft smile on her gorgeous lips.

I gently place my hand beneath her chin and lift her face up toward mine again. “You are perfect, Chiara.” I press my lips against hers and feel the warmth of her mouth as it sends electricity bolting through my body.

My heart tugs nervously at me for a moment. There's something I have been wanting to talk to her about for a while now, but I've been worried she would say no.

“Chiara?”

“Mm?” she replies, lazily, the sun heating our skin.

“I want to marry you again.”

Her eyes flutter open. “What do you mean?”

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