Page 106 of In My Heart
“You can, but not from them, Rafe. You have no need to protect me from them. You know that.”
“That doesn’t mean heads won’t roll if they ever hurt you, Cara.”
“We never doubted that for a second, brother,” Dio cut in with a smirk.
His face was slightly less swollen that morning, but he was still bruised and cut up in places. Terza would be devastated when she saw him.
“I want you to come home now, sweetheart. Things are in too much upheaval for you to be here unprotected. I barely slept for worrying last night,” Rafe almost pleaded.
“And the guys?” I questioned.
“I want youallto come home. I’m still angry and unsure about this relationship between all of you, but I will learn to accept it if, as you say, they make you happy and take care of you as you deserve.”
“They do,” I assured him.
“Then you’ll all come home? I received intel last night that Adamian is days from death. It’s likely he will step up his plans to ensure the marriage before he dies. You’re not safe here.” Rafe looked from me to Dio. “We need her to be secure at home, Dario. Surely you see that?”
“I do,” Dio nodded. “And I agree, but ultimately the decision lies with Cara. Wherever we go, and whatever we do, she needs to be comfortable with the decision.”
I looked to Dio gratefully, a watery smile on my face as tears filled my eyes. I knew it had to be hard for him to hand that control to me, especially when it concerned my safety, but he had done it willingly, to support me. That meant so much.
“We’ll go home,” I nodded. “On the condition that you let Cal check you over before we leave and make sure you’re up to thejourney back,” I stipulated, looking to Rafe and allowing all of my worry for him and the state he was in to show through.
“I’m fine, Cara. The doctor was at the house yesterday, and she said I’m healing remarkably well,” he argued.
“That’s my condition,” I stated flatly. He was too pale and shaky looking. It terrified me. I had never seen my brother weakened until he took that bullet. The contrast, to how strong and solid he usually was, rattled me deeply.
“Fine. If you insist,” Rafe relented and I let out the sigh of relief I had been holding onto and went to him. I lowered down to sit on the arm of the chair he sat in, then leaned over and wrapped my arms gently around him.
“I love you,” I told him softly. “Please don’t ever make me choose again. Please.”
“I won’t,Gioia. I let my anger take over and I was stupid. I’ll never do it again. I love you too,” he assured me as he held me tight.
***
The house was quiet when we got back. Cal had suggested I head up to my room to take a nap and I hadn’t argued because I felt exhausted after barely sleeping the night before. Reassured by the others that they’d keep a close eye on Rafe, who also looked ready for a long nap, I did just that and ambled up the stairs.
Once I was in my room I filled the tub and took a long soak, hoping to ease the slight ache between my legs from the previous night with Cal.
I was going to need to get used to them all if this relationship between us was going to work, but how did one go about toughening up their girl parts for three men who were a bit too much of a tight fit? I was pretty sure you couldn’t google that. Or at least I was sure I didn’t want to look at the results of that search.
After the bath, I pulled on comfortable yoga pants and a loose t-shirt, then collapsed into bed with a deep sigh. At least we were all home, I told myself, and Rafe wasn’t trying to kill anyone so far either. Small mercies and all that jazz. I’d take it for now.
I didn’t remember falling asleep, but I obviously had, because when I opened my eyes it was dark outside my windows. I sat up and checked the time on my phone, groaning when I realised I had slept most of the day away.
I forced myself to get up when I realised it was almost dinner time, my stomach rumbling loudly as if to remind me I had barely eaten in the last twenty-four hours.
Once I pulled on a sweater over my t-shirt, and scraped my wild hair back into a ponytail that almost resembled something civilised, I left the room and virtually skipped down the stairs in search of food.
The kitchen smelled like garlic, rosemary, fresh bread, and heaven, long before I got to the door. Honestly, Terza weaponised food. She was a goddess in the kitchen and I was pretty sure she deserved one of those fancy Michelin stars.
“There you are, baby,” Dio sighed as I walked in. He was at the counter picking up a large serving bowl filled with salad, but he put it down on seeing me and crossed the room to engulf me in a hug. “I was starting to worry. Are you feeling okay?” he fussedas he held me in one arm and ran the back of his hand across my forehead with the other.
“I didn’t mean to sleep so long. I guess I was tired,” I shrugged. “I’m fine though. No need to worry.”
“Dinner’s on the table. We thought we’d all eat together,” he explained, and I smiled brightly.
“That sounds good.”
