Page 103 of Ruined in Vows

Of course it was an accident, but regardless of that, it doesn’t change the fact I still shot my wife. Despite aiming for the men trying to grab her, it somehow ricocheted, hitting Allegra in the side.

Fortunately - if you can even call it that - the bullet entered her body, but didn’t hit any vital organs, instead puncturing the skin and causing a deep flesh wound that the surgeons stitched back together.

Scrubbing a palm down my face, I think back to the moment I saw my angel surrounded by those men. The fear in her blue eyes called to me on a deeper level and almost crippled me. In that moment I didn’t even think, I just fired, wanting them dead and away from her in the fastest way possible. I just never anticipated that I might accidentally shoot myprincipessa.

Growling at my sheer stupidity of not accounting for stray bullets, or anything else for that matter, I gently take her hand – without the canula – in mine, twining them together and brushing my thumb across her knuckles in soothing circles, all the while silently begging her to wake up.

From what the doctor said, it’s her body’s way of recovering after the shock of being shot and she will wake when she feels like it. Still, it doesn’t bring me any semblance of calm. I won’t rest easy until I see her beautiful eyes.

The door being pushed open breaks me from my reverie.

Glancing up, I see a concerned Valentina enter, and a weary looking Alessio positioned at the door before it closes, blocking him from my view.

“How is she?” she asks, handing me one of the coffee cups in her hands.

“The same,” I tell her, my voice strained. Clearing my throat, I remind myself that it is nobody's fault but my own that Allegra is in this bed and not to take it out on her mamma. Softening my tone, I say. “Thanks for the coffee.”

Her lips tip up into a small smile. “I don’t know how good it will be, but it’s the only option we have.”

I nod, thoughtful. “Where is Nic?”

She sighs. “He is dealing with the police.”

“Right. I forgot about them.”

“Yeah. Being that the Romano soldiers decided to ram our vehicle on a side street in New York, it was only a matter of time before the police showed up and got involved. Fortunately, Nico got rid of all the weapons linked to his men. The feds believe it was a targeted attack on us, but they don’t know who initiated it.”

My brows furrow, something not adding up. “So, who do they think shot the Romano men?”

She shrugs. “Of course, the police are aware of who our family is. They are not stupid and know we fought back; they just have no proof considering there are no weapons. And with Nico’s contacts, he can make it go away. I am sure it will just be a case of looking the other way. From the little my son has told me, no charges will be brought against anyone from our side.”

“That’s good then,” I mutter, my gaze shifting back to Allegra.

“Yeah.” She clears her throat. “Dante?”

“Yes?” I answer but don’t look at her.

Valentina sighs, rounding the bed and taking a seat beside me. She places her free hand on my shoulder silently.

“Look at me,” she urges.

Emotion clogs my throat. I shake my head. “I can’t.”

“Dante,” she warns.

“This is all my fault. If Allegra had never seen me in Las Vegas, she wouldn’t be in this bed right now with a gunshot wound in her side. I should have stayed where they put me, that way, this would never have happened.”

I hear the faint sound of her paper coffee cup being placed down. She takes mine from my hand, placing that down too before cupping my cheeks and forcing me to look at her. She smiles softly, imploring me with her eyes.

“Listen to me Dante. The best thing to ever happen tomia figliais you. When she believed you were dead, a part of her died too. The light went out in her eyes and that only returned when she saw you again by those fountains in Las Vegas. It was fate that brought her there. She was meant to find you, just as you were meant to find her. This is not your fault. There is only one person responsible and that is Riccardo Romano. So, I will not have any more of that nonsense filling your head. Understand?” I start to shake my head, but Valentina only holds me tighter, her eyes narrowing. “No. You are like a son to me. Always have been.You being alive meant everything to all of us. Allegra and Nico were not the only ones grieving your death. I did too. Like I said, you are like a son to me. Seeing you that night…” she trails off, a small smile tipping her lips. “We all thought you were a ghost or a very good doppelgänger. But Allegra knew. In her heart and soul, she knew it was you. Even when Nico tried to tell her otherwise. She fought for you. Just like she always did.”

Chuckling, I pull my head out of her hold, my eyes flicking back to my wife.

“She is the strongest, most resilient woman I have ever known,” I murmur honestly.

“She is. I believe that even if my husband were still alive, she would have fought him on this marriage every step of the way. I can say with certainty that no matter what Lorenzo’s arrangement had been, she would have never married Riccardo.”

“I would never have allowed it. I would have taken her and ran.” I pause, the words sounding familiar as a whisper of a memory flickers in my mind.

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