Page 99 of King

He looks at me and gently brushes his hand over my cheek. “I love you, Zina.” He says quietly.

Tears are running freely down my face, but I’m smiling.

He leans close and presses his lips against mine.

“I love you, little firefly.”

“I love you too.” I whisper back.

Giovanni carefully does seven very neat stitches in my side, then covers it with clean gauze and bandages.

“No sudden movements, or you’ll tear the stitches out.”

“You better tell my husband that, he tends to be a little - rough.” I grin.

Giovanni chuckles, sitting down on the sofa next to me he pulls me onto his lap, gently wrapping his arm around my waist.

“I’m so sorry.” He nuzzles his face in my neck.

“I’m just glad to have you back. I thought I lost you - that I lost your love.” I murmur.

“No matter how hard I tried - I could never stop loving you, Zina.”

We sit quietly for a long time, until Giovanni stands up, cradling me in his arms, to carry me to bed so that I can rest.

“Do you think it’s over?” I ask with my head resting against his broad chest and his strong arms holding me safe.

“I don’t know, my love. But I won’t let doubt come between us again.”

His words flood me with happiness.

All I want is his love.

All I want in this world is him.

TWENTY-NINE

giovanni

The broken wall around the garden has been rebuilt.

It took eight days and a full team to get it done, but now it’s finished, and the estate looks the same as it did before the attack. It’s a relief, one small step towards going back to normal.

Bullet holes in walls and windows were repaired, glass was cleaned away, and the blood was washed from the grass. There are still dark stains in the stone, but over time, those will fade too.

The things that will take longer to heal are the pain we feel from the people we lost, and the wounds in our flesh. Fabio is struggling the most, his team means a lot to him and he feels responsible for the lives taken.

But time will help that too.

I walk into the dining room and find Guido and Dante dishing up their dinner.

Zina is laughing as she hands a glass of water across the table to Dante.

He takes it with a smile. “Thanks.” He says.

Santino and Romeo are less interactive. They’re still angry with me for my choices.

My decision to trust Zina has given me such immense relief.

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