Page 42 of DeLuca: The Devil

“He is, but he loves you. This has been hard on him, too. You have no idea how hard he searched for you. When he kept coming close and then didn’t find you, he felt like a failure. He blames himself for you even being taken. I know you don’t remember him, but I hope you at least give him a chance. My brother is not the man he was before he met you. Sure, the violent criminal is still there, but he’s better than he was. He smiles. Domenic ‘The Devil’ De Luca actually smiles.”

My husband walks in, we are both laughing, and he arches an eyebrow, “Everything okay here?”

Dalia rolls her eyes at him, “Yes, I was just leaving,” She rises from her chair and throws her arms around him, “I love you, Shrek.”

He groans, “Love you too, Pipsqueak, but if you don’t stop teaching my wife your nicknames for me, we’re gonna have an issue.”

It warms my heart when I watch her tilt her head back and look into his face, affectionately. I don’t know much about their family, but it’s clear she adores Domenic.

He releases her, and she reaches down and picks up her purse, “It was lovely speaking with you, Giada. Can I come back soon?”

I smile, “I would like that, thank you, Dalia. Talking to you helped.”

This woman is like a walking dose of sunshine. I have no idea how it was so easy to speak to a virtual stranger, but it was.

She takes Domenic's hand, “Walk me to the door.”

He groans as he walks back over to me, rubbing his face, “Apparently, I need to shave because I look like a hobo.”

I giggle, “I like your sister. A lot.”

He grins as he lowers himself into her vacated chair, “I like her too. Even if she is a pain in the ass.”

Reaching over, he takes my hand, “I will never forgive myself for you being taken and tortured. I’ve never told a woman I loved her before. When I said it to you, I meant it.”

Chapter Thirty

GIADA

Three days later…

Domenic’s speech about loving me has rattled around inside my head since he said it. He was very passionate about it, and I believed every word he spoke, but it didn't change things. I don’t love him. Part of me wants to because he’s, my husband. I should love him. I should want to spend every waking moment I can with him. But I don’t. Today, he had to deal with something business-related, and I’m so grateful for the peace and quiet. The therapist is coming today anyway, and I don’t want him here for that.

I’ve been here at the hospital for a week now, and I’m beginning to get bored. Nat brought me some magazines, and Domenic got me a laptop and cell phone. My friend was going to bring me a tablet and cell phone, but Dom growled at her, “I’m perfectly capable of buying my wife a tablet and phone.”

With that, it was decided that he would take care of it.

I’m flipping through a fashion magazine Nat brought me when my door opens, “Couldn’t stay away could you?” I ask, assuming it’s Domenic.

I freeze when I spot Enzo walking through the door. I should have pressed the button to call for the nurse, but I didn’t.

“I couldn’t stay away, once I knew you were alive.”

Enzo casually walks over to my bed, pulls out a gun, and slowly attaches a silencer. It’s at that exact second that my brain decides to work. Memories of bombs exploding in Dom’s house go off in my mind. I was screaming for him. All I wanted was to see him to know he was alive, but then the bedroom window was broken, and I was being pulled out. The broken glass cut my legs and arms as I was lowered with rope to the ground. I screamed, hit, and kicked, trying to get away. After being punched in the face repeatedly, Enzo drugged me, and it was game over.

He chuckles, “You didn’t think I’d let him have you back, did you?”

Rubbing the weapon across his jaw as if he’s thinking, “Yeah, this is better, right? He just got you back and he’s going to come in and find you dead. That’s gonna hurt.”

“So do it. I don’t even care anymore but know this… My husband will find you and he will kill you so slowly. The pain will be excruciating.”

Chuckling again, he says, “I doubt that.”

Domenic walks in with his brother, Damian. I think my heart might actually stop beating. “Go to her,” Dom says calmly.

“Come on Enzo. We both know it’s me you want. Here’s your chance. I won’t draw my gun. My brother won’t draw his. Take me out. But leave my wife alone.”

I watch in slow motion as my husband draws his gun and shoots Enzo, but Enzo’s bullet hits Domenic first, in the chest.

---