Page 54 of His Bride

Dante’s arm tightens around me, and I lean into his warmth, drawing strength from his presence.

“Thank God,” my father breathes. “When I heard the shooting, I thought…” His voice trails off.

“I’m okay,” I repeat, unsure what else to say. The weight of unspoken words hangs between us, heavy and suffocating.

“Adriana, I…” My father’s voice wavers, thick with guilt. “I need to tell you something. I’m so sorry.”

My stomach twists. Dread seeps into my bones, cold and unforgiving. I grip the phone tighter, knuckles white.

“What did you do?” The words tumble out, sharp and demanding. My heart races, each beat a warning.

A heavy sigh crackles through the line. “It was supposed to be Dante,” he confesses.

The world tilts. I grab Dante’s arm, anchoring myself. He tenses beside me, but I can’t look at him. Not yet.

“What do you mean?” I ask, though I already know. The truth claws at my throat.

“The target,” my father continues, words rushing out now. “It was meant for Dante. But when I realized he wasn’t there with you, I tried to stop it. I swear, Adriana. I called Lorenzo De Luca immediately.”

I stiffen.

“He betrayed me,” my father’s voice breaks. “The shooting went ahead anyway. Adriana, please. You have to believe me. I never meant for anyone else to get hurt. Especially not Valentina. I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”

I sit frozen, his words echoing in my ears. The weight of his betrayal crushes me, stealing my breath. How could he? My own father…

Dante’s fingers intertwine with mine, a silent reminder of his presence. I turn to him, searching his face. His expression is unreadable, but I can feel how rigid is body is, taut with rage.

“Adriana?” My father’s desperate voice pulls me back. “Please, say something.”

I open my mouth, but no words come. What can I possibly say?

My hands tremble as I grip the phone tighter.

“How could you?” I finally manage, my hand clenching the phone tightly. “Valentina is my best friend, Papa. She’s fighting for her life because of you.”

I close my eyes, seeing Valentina’s vibrant face once again. Now she’s lying in a hospital bed, tubes and wires everywhere. Because of my father’s actions.

“I know, tesoro,” he says, his voice thick with regret. “I made a terrible mistake. I was desperate, thinking only of our family’s honor. But I see now how wrong I was.”

His guilt bleeds through every word, but it does nothing to soothe the storm raging inside me. I love my father, but this betrayal cuts deep.

“Honor?” I spit out the word. “There’s no honor in what you’ve done. You could have killed someone. You almost did.”

My father’s ragged breath comes through the line. “You’re right. I was a fool. I’ll do anything to make this right, Adriana. Please, tell me how.”

I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. Tears sting my eyes as I struggle to reconcile the loving father I’ve always known with this man who could order such violence.

“I don’t know if you can make this right, Papa,” I say, my heart breaking with each word. I can’t believe he wanted to kill my husband. Just the mere thought of Dante dead makes my heart ache.

My father’s voice crackles through the phone, desperate and pleading. “Adriana, please. I’ll do anything. I love you, tesoro.”

The words twist in my gut like a knife. I can’t bear to hear any more. My thumb hovers over the end call button, trembling.

“I… I can’t do this right now,” I choke out. “Goodbye, Papa.”

I hit end call before he can respond, letting the phone drop onto the bed. The silence that follows is deafening.

I turn to Dante, my vision blurring with unshed tears. His jaw is clenched and there is still anger in his eyes, but there’s something in his eyes - pity and sadness on my behalf.

---