Page 138 of In My Heart
Now my brother was nothing but a legitimate, successful business owner, and my men worked regular jobs right alongside him. Every time I thought that, I smiled a little at knowing how much Marcello would be turning in his grave to know his empire was gone.
We came back from Nice on a grey London afternoon, the sky dark and dingy, low clouds pressing over Kensington in a way that was so familiar, it was comforting.
I’d had the holiday of a lifetime in France, staying in the villa Rafe owned in the mountains overlooking Monaco. The guys had surprised me with the trip, and I’d been so excited.
It had been exactly what we needed. Two weeks in the sun, relaxing without any pressure from work or studies. Just the fiveof us, together, I already couldn’t wait for us to take our next trip!
The drive from the airport was loud in the way only the five of us could make it - Arran talking nonsense in the front seat just to amuse, or maybe wind his brother up, Cal laughing heartily, and giving as good as he got, Dio cursing at every red light, like they had a vendetta against him, and Dante pretending he wasn’t listening, while very clearly listening to every word.
I sat between Cal and Dante in the back, my hand threaded loosely through Dante’s. His grip was steady, grounding without being restrictive. Arran kept glancing at me in the mirror like he was checking I was still real.
“I’m fine,” I said eventually, because I knew he was going to ask.
That hadn’t changed no matter how much better I got. My men always checked in with me, and watched me closely, attentive to my every need or mood change. Maybe it would annoy some people, but I found it comforting, to know they were always there. I no longer feared being left alone. I knew my family would never leave me.
“Didnae ask,” Arran replied, grinning as he turned to look at me over his shoulder fully. “Just admirin’ the love of my life, looking perfectly peaceful right now.”
“She’s tired,” Dante snorted.
“I am,” I admitted.
“Almost there,Piccola,” Dio assured me, while reaching back without looking, to take my hand in his, almost contorting his arm to do so.
“We should order food when we get home. Proper food. Not whatever Arran considers edible,” Cal announced, and I glanced up at him, from where my head was resting against his shoulder.
“Hey,” Arran said, offended. “My cookin’s improved.”
“I’d say the improvement is negligible, ” Dio cut in flatly, making me laugh.
When we turned into Kensington, the house looked the same at first—grand, imposing, familiar. Home. It was home, and even after the amazing trip we’d had, I was happy to be back there. That place, just like my guys, my brother, Terza, and my therapy, was a part of my healing.
Rafe was waiting for us when we all walked inside. He was leaning against the hallway wall like he’d been waiting for us.
He was dressed in jeans and a black polo t-shirt, his suits, his armour, now only donned to go into the office. He had relaxed a lot, now the pressure of being a mafia boss had been taken from his shoulders. He laughed more, slept more, and recently, he’d started dating. He had built a new life for himself too, but he had made it look so much easier than I had found it. It had taken months for him to get back to full strength, but his determination had never faltered, and now he was back to full health, maybe even stronger.
He’d rebuilt his entire life from the ground up, and he had changed in so many ways. He was still controlled, and cautious. Still very much in command of his business and his employees, and dedicated to his career, but the masks were gone, He got to be himself outside of the business now, and I had gotten a version of my brother I wasn’t sure I had ever really known before. It was like he had finally been allowed to exhale, and indoing so, he had found some peace he never allowed himself to have before.
“Rafe!” I cried happily as I dropped my purse inside the door and crossed the hall to him.
“Finally,” he said as I landed in his arms and he embraced me tightly. “I was starting to think you’d run off to France permanently.”
“Dinnae pretend the idea didnae appeal to ye,” Arran replied with a smirk.
“Tempting, but I prefer you all within shouting distance.” Rafe’s mouth twitched and I beamed up at him. It never failed to make me happy, seeing him relaxed like that.
“Are you alright,Gioia?” he asked. His eyes met mine, and softened in the way they never did for anyone else.
I nodded eagerly, a bright smile on my face. I knew I had a sun tan from sunbathing on the beautiful beach Dio hired out for us privately, in Nice, and I had gained a little weight recently too, my appetite improving the more my anxiety receded. I knew what he saw when he looked at me. I was healthy, glowing, and happy.
“Good,” he said simply, a small smile tipping up his lips.
“Everything alright here?” Dio asked as he appeared at Rafe’s side and slapped him on the back affectionately.
He’d been good on holiday, not looking at work emails, or discussing business when we called my brother, but I knew he was itching to dive back in by now. Two weeks away from his job had him antsy to take back control.
“All under control,” Rafe nodded.
“We should go and unpack,” Cal suggested as he started gathering our luggage which my security team were bringing to the door from the car.
