Page 62 of Bound to the Mafia King

My brother’s eyes narrowed on Valerio. “You think you’re hilarious?”

“A fucking comedian, if you ask me.”

They were just pulling at each other. I knew they were only trying to get under each other's skin. They had been too at odds to be friendly right off the bat.

“You saved my life,” Valerio said. “And hers as well.”

“She’s my sister,” my brother quipped. “You were just saved by extension. I would have let you die.”

“Danny!” I gave my brother a pointed look.

He held his hand up in surrender. “Fine, I choose peace. I’m glad you aren’t dead.”

“The closest thing I will get as an I love you from you.”

A small rumble of laughter left my brother’s lips against his will. When he noticed it, he quickly tried to cover it, but it was too late.

A long pause of silence filled the room. Neither of the two men spoke. But unlike the times before when they had been face to face, there was no thick-layered tension. The atmosphere was easy and breathable.

“Take care of my sister, Valerio.” His words came out a little louder than he had been speaking before. “She is the most precious thing in my life, and she is all I have in this world. I’m trusting you with her.”

My heart swelled thinking of how huge of a deal this was.

Valerio curled his arm around my waist and pulled me to his side. I turned to look into his eyes, and I could quite literally see the love swimming in them. Now I knew what they meant when they said that love roared in the eyes and whispered in the heart. I was seeing it first-hand.

“I will make sure that no tears ever touch her eyes out of sadness.” He spoke the words to my brother, but his eyes were set on me. “She will be in my care until I take my dying breath.”

It was a promise to me and our future.

For the first time in what seemed like years, my heart and soul were completely and utterly at ease. I didn’t feel like the world was about to cave in on me at any moment.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t be all cheesy and corny. It’s gross. And I still don’t like you.”

“Still don’t like you either, buddy.Ya skoro budu tvoim zyatem.”

I'm going to be your brother-in-law soon.

My brother rolled his eyes. “That is, if she doesn’t decide to drop your ass after a year. If not less.”

“Not going to happen.” Valerio pulled me into his side. “She’s with me for life now.”

The two of them bickered some more while I just sat back and watched the two most important men in my life finally come to a middle ground.

They didn’t know it yet, but I was sure that this was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Anastasia

The waves crashed against the shoreline as the moon hung high in the sky. My fingers were threaded in between Valerio’s as we strolled down the beach hand in hand. A week ago, this life seemed so different, and yet here we were, living out the very life we said was unattainable. Life felt so surreal. Less than four days ago, I didn’t even know if I would live or die. And now here I was, strolling along the beach with the love of my life.

My brother had given us his blessing. Not only that, but Valerio had helped him re-establish our family. My brother still had his reservations about my relationship with him, but he was willing to give him a chance. I would take it, for the time being. In time, they would grow to love each other. They were the two most important men in my life.

He had to stay in the hospital for the next two weeks to make sure that he was okay, much to his disdain. I was just happy that he was alive.

I looked up to the full moon and couldn’t help the sigh of contentment that escaped my lips. I had never been so happy before in my life.

It was perfect. I wanted to remain in this bubble forever.

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