Page 94 of Beautiful Vows

"You're her husband too. You don’t have to wait for my agreement. Lia’s in charge. It’s her body. And…" His voice is croaky, still dry from his weakened state, "I can see how much you both care for her."

His response floors me.

Cade smiles at me, overhearing the conversation as he walks back into the room.

The magnitude of this moment isn't lost on me. Dante, who was once so possessive of Lia, now will share her. It's a testament to how much we've all grown, how much we've been through together.

Without hesitation, I grab Lia's hand and pull her onto my lap, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "Care isn't strong enough," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "We both love her."

Lia turns to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Do you?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course I do." I hold her gaze. "And Cade can speak for himself, but I know he feels the same, too." He gives me a smile when I glance at him.

"We want you, Lia. And everything you can give to us and us to you."

A smile breaks across her face as she wipes away a stray tear. "I love you too," she says, and my heart swells.

Dante's impatient voice interrupts the moment. "Now get me outta here," he grumbles, shifting uncomfortably in the hospital bed.

As if on cue, the door swings open, and a doctor walks in carrying a clipboard, his face a mask of professional detachment. It wouldn't surprise me if he’s shaking inside after seeing my father outside the room.

"Mr. De Luca," he begins. "You're not quite ready to be discharged yet. After a few days of observation, we may clear you to leave the hospital. Providing afterward, you rest at home."

"I'm fine." Dante groans in frustration.

"What's a few days? You're awake." Relief is written in Lia's eyes. We all know how close we came to losing him.

As the doctor goes over Dante's recovery plan, Dominic opens the door and strides inside the room.

His presence still commands attention, but his eyes, normally sharp and calculating, soften slightly as they land on Dante. He moves to the other side of the bed, opposite from where I'm sitting.

Lia quickly slides off my lap, moving to stand next to Amara. The tension in the room ratchets up a notch as we all wait for Dominic to speak.

He places a hand on Dante's shoulder, his voice low but firm when he finally breaks the silence. "You did good, son. Taking that bullet... It shows what kind of man you are."

Dominic's gaze sweeps across the room, lingering on Lia for a moment before returning to Dante. "But now it's time to heal. You're no good to anyone if you push yourself too hard, too fast. The family needs you at full strength."

"And the Syndicate," Dante adds.

"Fuck the Syndicate. Right now, family is all that matters." He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper, but in the quiet room, we can all hear him clearly. "And Lia needs you. The bullet was meant for her, and it might not be the last."

"Thanks for the pep talk, Dad," Dante deadpans. But I smile at the easy conversation, despite the subject choice.

"You need to be around to kill every fucker who tries to take her from you."

"I know." Dante relents.

Straightening up, Dominic addresses the doctor, his tone determined. "My son will stay as long as necessary. You'll give him the best care possible. Understood?"

The doctor nods quickly, clearly intimidated.

"Antonio is visiting you later." Dominic turns back to Dante, his expression softening once more. "Rest, heal, and come back stronger. The family is secure for now. Your job is to get well."

With that, he gives Dante's shoulder a last squeeze, pauses, looking at all of us. "Family is everything," he says, his gaze taking in not just Dante and me, but Lia, Amara, and Cade as well. "Take care of each other."

With the weight of his words hanging in the air, it's clear that things are changing.

Chapter 32

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