Page 70 of Inescapable Ties
The ride felt like an eternity. Every second stretched into minutes, every minute an eternity. Finally, we screeched up to a nondescript building in the heart of the city – the Mafia’s unassuming yet heavily fortified medical facility.
Emilio sprang from the car and banged on the door. After an agonizing wait, it creaked open, and two large men appeared, moving with a brisk professionalism as they transferred Short Dino onto a gurney and whisked him away into the depths of the building.
“Now what?” I blurted, anxious over the unknown status of my bodyguard and friend.
“We wait to hear back,” Emilio responded. “Cesare will take good care of him.”
“The old man that stitched up my legs? How does he even see to do surgery?”
Emilio cackled. “Cesare has worked for us for a long time; he’s the best at what he does. And Dino could survive anything. I’m surprised his body didn’t absorb the bullet.”
Dino was a solid, muscular man, with broad shoulders and thick arms that hinted at incredible strength. However, his sturdy build couldn’t protect him from everything - certainly not from a bullet. I lightly chuckled at his joke, appreciating his sense of humor amidst the tension in our current situation.
“Let’s go home,” Emilio said, grabbing my hand.
The drive home was filled with a comfortable silence that settled over us like a thick blanket, offering solace amid chaos. The familiar sights of the city slipped past in a blur, their reassuring constancy serving as a counterpoint to the tumultuous evening we had lived through.
Once we reached our apartment building, Emilio parked the car and came around to open my door. He held out his hand, and I gladly took it, drawing strength from his comforting presence. As we ascended in the elevator, roughened by years of frequent use, I leaned into him, my head resting on his broad shoulder.
Emilio took my hand as the apartment door shut behind us. There were a few beats of silence between us before I broke it.
“I can’t believe it was my father and Rolando this whole time.” My lower lip wobbled as the news truly sunk in. I had always known my family committed dark deeds. But to think they were actually going to kill me cut deeper than knowing what horrible things they did.
“Sometimes the ones you love can hurt you the most,” Emilio responded. “I’m sorry, Luciana.”
I lost my composure when he called out my first name instead of Jaws. My emotions, long suppressed and tightly coiled within, burst forth like a dam breaking under the weight of a flood. I buried my face into his chest, finding solace in the warmth and safety of his embrace as I finally released all the pent-up tears and sobs that had been building throughout the day. My body shook uncontrollably with the intensity of my emotions, but in that moment, I felt truly understood and supported by the person who mattered most to me.
“It’s over now,” Emilio said as my sobs quieted down. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“Yeah.” I discreetly wiped my nose with my sleeve, something I would never do in front of anyone else except for him. “I just wished it didn’t have to go down that way.”
“Are you ok? After…” he trailed off, not sure if he should vocalize the fact I shot and killed my father.
A montage of all the horrible things he had done to me as a child until now ran through my mind’s eye. Although he was a horrible person, I didn’t know if I would ever be ok. Killing somebody was a weird feeling.
“He deserved it,” I said simply.
There were another few moments of silence between us.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “For what I said at your family’s house.”
“It’s f-” I interjected, as I had seen from his earlier actions he did not mean what he had said.
“No Jaws, it’s not fine. I don’t mean that at all.” he paused, running his thumb along my jaw. “I love you.”
A rush of warmth traveled up my spine, and I looked at Emilio with an astonishment that quickly melted into something softer, something more intimate. His eyes were dark yet shining with sincerity, the lines of his face had softened and he was holding me gently but firmly, as if, in some strange way, I was a lifeline pulling him from the darkness of regret.
“I know,” I responded after a moment’s silence. “I saw it in your eyes when you came for me. And... I love you too.”
A small smile played across his lips as he leaned down, his eyes never leaving mine. He cupped my face gently in his hands, his dark eyes warm with emotion. As our lips met in a tender kiss, everything else seemed to fade into the background. It was just us in that moment - our new beginning started now.
Chapter thirty-eight
Luciana
“Thisisthemostbeautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I said, my eyes as wide as saucers.
Emilio and I had finally made it to our long-awaited honeymoon destination: the stunning island of Santorini, Greece. We were staying at the luxurious Aegan Horizon Hotel, surrounded by nothing but beauty and relaxation. As we walked into our lavish hotel room, I couldn't help but admire the soft linens that draped over every surface. The door to our private balcony was propped open, inviting in the gentle sea breeze and offering a sliver of the iconic view of white-washed buildings cascading down the hilltops. It was like something out of a postcard or a dream.
