Page 104 of Of Grief And Gratitude

“Who the fuck knows?” He blew out a harsh breath. “Dante says he denied ordering the hit and is just as shocked as we are. Either way, we’ll find out when we get back to Chicago.”

I nodded, understanding the undertone of his words. They would have somebody get information out of his uncle before punishing him for his crimes against the family.

Suddenly, I was pinned between the shower wall and Romeo’s broad body, his lips inches from mine.

“I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t keep you safe, Riona,” he rasped.

I stroked my hand down his cheek. “I don’t blame you. It’s not your fault.”

“It was my job to keep you safe, and I failed,” he lamented. “When I thought I’d lost you, it felt like my world was falling apart. I could hardly breathe until I got to you and made sure you were alive.”

“You saved me,” I said, tapping my finger against his chest. “If you hadn’t heard me; if you hadn’t come out—”

He pressed a finger to my lips. “Don’t say it. I can’t speak those words.”

Then, his fingers were replaced by his soft lips gently brushing against mine. He kissed me again and again. Slow and sweet. Full of all the meaning of the words left unspoken between us.

He tilted my chin up and stared so intently into my eyes that it felt like his gaze touched my very core of being. “I never want to experience that terror again. I couldn’t take it. I need you, Riona. I love you.”

My breath hitched at his words, my chest swelling and aching as my heart tried to break free. “I love you too, Romeo.”

“I’m not letting you go,” he said determinedly. “You’re mine. Even when this life ends, I’ll challenge the creator himself until I find you again.”

A watery laugh escaped my lips. “Let’s leave that one far, far in the future. I’m yours.”

His lips crashed against mine, desperate and passionate, as he brought our bodies flush, touching as much as possible. I gasped for air when he moved away and shut off the water, helping dry me off and get the scrubs on before he redressed. He even rinsed the mud off the bottom of my sneakers and wiped the tops clean with damp paper towels before slipping them on my feet and tying the laces into pretty bows.

“Careful, I might start to expect this kind of treatment all the time,” I quipped, stroking the top of his head as he knelt before me.

“Anytime, mia fiamma.” He smirked. “I should have asked the doctor when it’s safe to have sex again.”

I whacked him on the shoulder, and he stood. “That’s the last thing on my mind right now while my brain tries to escape my skull.”

“Sorry.” He frowned. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

I fisted the hand on my good arm and planted it on my hip. The effect was comical in my blue scrubs that were a size too big. “Don’t you dare stop being you because I’m hurt. I don’t want your pity. Plus, I kind of like the filthy talk.”

“Mm, you don’t say,” he purred, leaning down and kissing my neck. “I’ll make sure to talk to you more often, then.”

Before I could respond, there was a light tap on the door. “Mr. Neretti. There’s somebody here for you.”

“We’ll be right out,” Romeo replied to the doctor. “That’ll be Dante’s man. He’ll take us to the airport.”

I followed him out, where a tall, dark-haired man in a black suit and shiny black shoes waited, hands clasped in front of his body. “Sir.”

Romeo nodded. “Stefano. Good to see you. Is my brother ready?”

“He’ll meet us at the airport,” the man explained.

Doc Adams stood by the door, Sadie sitting obediently at his side. I returned his kind smile. “Thank you for everything.”

“No thanks needed,” he replied. “You go home and rest.”

“I will. I promise.”

I followed Romeo out the door and to the waiting SUV. I wondered if the family owned stock in the company, given how often they used the vehicles. The ride to the private runway was just as miserable as the ride to the doctor’s office, and I coped by squeezing the life out of Romeo's fingers. He sat stoically, not breathing a word even when the digits turned white from my grip. I caught him shaking his hand when he got out of the car and helped me out.

“I’ve never flown on a private jet before,” I said as I looked at the sleek aircraft with awe.

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