Page 61 of Bound to the Mafia King

“Come here.” He opened his arms to me.

“You’re hurt. I don’t want to make anything worse.”

“Anastasia, I almost died. Give me a damn hug.”

I laughed through my tears and hugged him as he wanted. I made sure to be extra careful with him so that I wasn’t pressing on anything that would cause him any pain.

“You were right. I should have never put you in that position to begin with.” He patted down my hair at the back like he used to when we were kids. “I should have been more considerate of you, and I am sorry that this need to establish our family took over me completely. I was wrong, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, one day.”

I let out a shaky breath, the anxiety and stress of how this moment was going to pan out leaving my body. All that remained was gratitude. I was thankful that he was alive. I was thankful that he was my brother. And I was thankful that we were both in this hospital room, able to apologize to each other instead of burying either one of us.

The tears flowed down my face.

“I almost lost you.” I buried my face in the crook of his neck. “I can’t lose you, Danny.”

He pulled away from me. “You won’t. I’m right here, Ana, and I’m not going anywhere. It’s me and you for life, sister.”

“Me and you for life.” My heart was full.

“Do you love him?” He asked the question after a few minutes of silence.

I brushed the last remaining tears from my face. “I do. He makes me happy, Danny.”

He pursed his lips together. “I still think he’s not good enough for you. But no one will ever be good enough for you in my eyes.”

I placed my hand on top of his. “I know that. But he is the one person who makes me feel most alive. He doesn’t make me feel incapable or just another piece on the board.”

“Have you told him all of this?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. But I will, soon enough.”

He threw his head back and let out a dramatic groan. “I mean, you could do worse, I guess. I can’t be mad at your choice. He clearly has good taste.”

“Don’t flatter me, brother.”

“It’s only the truth,” he teased. The light returned to his eyes, and it looked like whatever weight had been pressed on his chest was slowly beginning to lift. “I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy, Ana. You deserve the world and more. I’m sorry thatI almost robbed you of the happiness that came with choosing your own life.”

I squeezed his hand on mine. “I forgive you, Danny.”

I could feel the shards of my shattered heart slowly coming back together again after years of having been broken.

“You can come in, Valerio,” my brother said after a bit, raising his voice. “I know you’re waiting by the door.”

A few seconds later, Valerio peeked his head through the door. “I just got here. Thought I would give you two a minute.”

His eyes moved from my brother’s face to mine, and then down to our joined hands. The warmness in his eyes made my small heart melt. I saw the tension visibly leave his body, and he smiled my way softly.

“You okay?”

I nodded. “Better than okay.”

My brother made a hurling sound, “You two are going to make me sick. Get in here and close the door before I change my mind and kick you out.”

Valerio walked inside and made his way to the side of the bed I was sitting on. He placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. The little buzz that always erupted within me filled my body at the contact.

“So, this is happening?” He gestured between the two of us.

“It’s inevitable,” Valerio said without hesitation. “You may just have to get used to it.”

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