Page 105 of Bound in Vengeance
"No, silly," I say through my tears, a breathy laugh escaping me as I reach up to cup his jaw. "Your words... they're the sweetest things I've ever heard. And I love you too, Alessandro. So much. Beyond words. I never, ever knew I could love you like this."
His dark eyes widen, a look of sheer, stunned disbelief crossing his rugged face. "You... you love me?"
I laugh, wiping a tear from my cheek. "Yes, I love you."
A massive, breathtaking smile breaks across his face. He lets out a loud, triumphant whoop, instantly hooking his arms under my thighs and lifting me right off the floor, twirling me around the bedroom as if we were the only two people left in the world.
When he finally slows down and puts me back on my feet, his hands linger snugly on my hips, his gaze burning with a completely different kind of fire.
I look up at him, my heart full to bursting, and slide my hands back up his chest. "Now make love to me, Alessandro."
A wicked, devoted smirk returns to his lips. He playfully snaps two fingers to his brow in a salute. "Yes, ma'am."
EPILOGUE
SIENNA
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Can I get another cup of coffee, please? And make it a vanilla latte this time, extra espresso,” Daniela calls out to the waiter with a bright smile, leaning back into the plush leather booth.
I giggle, swirling the straw in my own iced tea. “Dani, if you have any more caffeine, you’re going to start vibrating right out of your seat.”
“Let her live, Si,” Camilla laughs, taking a delicate bite of her almond croissant. “She’s running on four hours of sleep because she insisted on finishing her thriller novel last night.”
The sun streams beautifully through the large glass windows of our favorite corner café, casting a warm, golden glow over our table. Outside, the streets are bustling, but inside, theatmosphere is filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans, light jazz playing softly in the background, and the comforting sound of our shared laughter. The mood is light, happy, and absolutely wonderful—a stark contrast to where we were just months ago.
Sitting here with my sisters, completely free of the shadows that used to haunt us, feels like a beautiful dream I never want to wake up from.
“Guilty as charged,” Daniela admits, shaking her head as the waiter drops off her fresh mug.
She wraps her hands around the warm ceramic, looking across the table at me with a soft, content expression. “But honestly, Sienna, you look radiant.”
“You really do,” Camilla chimes in eagerly, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “Marriage looks incredibly good on you. Or maybe it’s just the fact that your husband treats you like a literal queen.”
A deep blush creeps up my neck, warming my cheeks instantly, which only makes my sisters burst into a chorus of delighted laughter.
From the corner of the booth, Eleonora smiles warmly, her eyes crinkling with genuine affection. “I’m just so incredibly happy you found a wonderful man, Sienna. You deserve every bit of this joy.”
“Speaking of your wonderful man,” Daniela says, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the table, her tone turning entirely amused. “For some reason, Dad has been absolutely pissed off. He loses his mind and hates the mention of your names. Seriously, the mere whisper of it ruins his entire day.”
I let out a sharp scoff, a smug smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Good. Two months ago, right after everything went down, Dad came over to my house. He actually had the nerve to request more weapons from Alessandro, using the excuse that he’s my father and we’re allies.”
Camilla gasps, her jaw dropping. “No way.”
“Yes way,” I say, taking a slow sip of my drink to build the suspense. “And Alessandro completely shut him down. He told him he would never benefit from me ever again, and then he literally told him to see himself out.”
My sisters instantly burst out laughing, the sheer satisfaction of the mental image rippling through the entire table. Even the rigid authority our father used to hold over us feels completely powerless now.
Rosalia shakes her head, a wistful, proud smile on her face. “That is absolutely amazing. Honestly, I wish my husband would take a page out of Alessandro’s book and learn a thing or two about family.”
The laughter softens, a collective, sympathetic smile passing between all of us as we look at her. We all know how awful herhusband is, and the subtle reminder of her situation leaves a brief, tender quiet over the table.
Sensing the shift, Rosalia gives a playful roll of her eyes, determined to keep the atmosphere bright and beautiful. She claps her hands together and points a fork at my plate. “Alright, enough of that! Let’s lighten the mood and eat our food before it gets cold.”
We all resume eating, the comfortable clinking of silverware and light small talk filling the gap as we ease back into the wonderful morning.
Then, Camilla clears her throat, the sudden shift in her posture drawing our attention. She looks down at her plate, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her napkin. "Guys... I’m actually really worried about something."
