Page 52 of His Bride

She doesn’t flinch from my touch, but I feel the slight tremble in her body. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing, Dante. Valentina’s my friend. She needs me.”

The urge to lock her away, to keep her safe from the world that nearly took her from me, wars with my grudging admiration for her spirit. This is the fire that drew me to her, the strength that makes her more than just a pretty face or a convenient alliance.

“We’ll find another way,” I say, struggling to keep my tone even. “I won’t risk losing you.”

Carmine clears his throat, reminding me of his presence. “Perhaps we can arrange a secure visit,” he suggests. “After we’ve thoroughly vetted the hospital staff and security.”

I turn to glare at my brother, but Adriana’s hopeful gasp stops me. I look back at her, seeing the spark of relief in her eyes. It’s like a knife to my gut, knowing I can’t give her everything she wants, everything she deserves.

“We’ll see,” I mutter, hating the compromise but unable to crush that fragile hope. “For now, you stay here. Where I can protect you.”

The words ‘where you belong’ die on my tongue, unspoken but hanging in the air between us.

Adriana’s eyes flash with defiance, her jaw set in a stubborn line. She takes a step back from me. “I’m not a china doll, Dante. I can’t just be locked away every time there’s danger.”

Her words ignite a fire in my chest. I step closer, towering over her. “This isn’t a game, Adriana. These people won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your head.”

Tears well up in her eyes, and I feel my resolve wavering. “Valentina is my only real friend,” she argues, her voice cracking. “I can’t abandon her.”

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to wrap her in my arms and never let go. “Your safety is paramount,” I state. “Until we get to the bottom of this, you’re not leaving this house.”

Lucia steps forward, her hand resting gently on Adriana’s shoulder. “We understand your concern,” she says softly. “But Dante’s right. It’s too dangerous right now.”

Carmine nods, his face a mask of calm authority. “We’ll keep you informed about Valentina’s condition. And as soon as it’s safe, we’ll arrange a visit.”

I watch as Adriana’s shoulders slump in defeat. She looks up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Promise me you’ll find who did this,” she pleads.

I pull her close to me and cup her face again, my thumbs wiping away the tears that have started to fall. “I swear it,” I vow, my voice low and dangerous. “They’ll pay for every tear you’ve shed.”

She nods, a small glimmer of trust flickering in her eyes. It’s not much, but it’s enough for now.

Chapter Eighteen

Adriana

I lay in bed, the darkness pressing in around me. My heart won’t stop racing. Every time I close my eyes, I hear the gunshot, a staccato rhythm of terror and see Valentina’s face, pale and lifeless. The sheets are damp with my cold sweat.

“Dante…I can’t stop seeing it,” I say, my voice cracking. “The gun, the blood. Val falling…”

Dante shifts beside me, his muscular arm wrapping around my waist. He pulls me against his chest, enveloping me in his warmth. “Shh, tesoro. You’re safe here with me.” His lips skim my ear, his breath hot on my skin.

But am I? The question echoes in my mind, a taunt. My best friend was shot at my mother’s birthday. Nowhere feels safe anymore.

I turn to face Dante, searching his eyes in the moonlight. “What if they come here next? Try to kill me? To kill you?”

My fingers trace the scar on his jaw, rough beneath my touch. He’s no stranger to violence, but that thought brings little comfort.

Dante catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. " They won’t. I won’t let anyone harm you, Adriana. I swear it.” There’s steel in his voice, cold and unyielding.

“How can you be so sure? How can you stay so calm?”

“Because I have to,” he says, his voice low and intense. “For you. For us.”

My throat tightens with unshed tears. “I’m scared, Dante. I don’t know if I’m cut out for this life.”

He cups my face in his calloused hands. “Listen to me, Adriana. I will protect you with my dying breath. No harm will come to you while I draw air.”

I want to believe him. Need to believe him. But the memory of gunfire and blood stains my thoughts crimson.

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