Page 73 of Vow of Desire

“He has to die.”

“No. He doesn’t. He saved my life. I know you weren’t happy about me and Matteo being together but I’m happy with him now. There’s no one else I want to be with. He literally saved himself for me. That has to mean something. And now he’s in surgery and I have no idea if he’s ok and –,” the tears hit me so suddenly, I gasp. And I don’t stop gasping. It’s like I can’t breathe. Between my worry for my husband and my dad threatening to kill him, I can’t think.

“Breathe, Luciana. Breathe.”

“Don’t kill him,” I sob. “Not when things are finally going right. Not when I need him. I have failed at so much, Daddy. But I can’t lose him now. I just can’t.”

My father looks at me like I’m a stranger but he still pats my hand and murmurs, “It’s ok. Everything will be ok. I’m here.”

But I know in this moment that everything will not be ok.

Because despite my newfound love for my husband, he’s going to be taken from me. Either from what Dante did to him or from my father killing him.

Death will take my husband and I feel powerless to stop it. I feel like an utter failure all over again.

“Don’t kill him,” I sob. “Please.”

“You can’t stay with him, Luciana. I refuse it. I won’t allow it.”

“Just don’t kill him. Please!” My voice is ragged and raw. He pulls away from me, shocked.

After a moment, he says, “I won’t kill him.” But I’m not sure I believe him. My own father. The man I’m supposed to trust more than anyone in this world.

I’m really no longer his little girl.

Chapter Eighteen

Luciana

Aday goes by before I get word of Matteo.

“How is my husband?” I ask the nurse who comes to check on my wellbeing. “I haven’t been told anything.”

“I’ll check for you,” she responds in her warm voice. It’s the opposite of my father’s cold stare. He’s not happy I asked him to not kill Matteo. But it’s what I want and he can deal with it.

“Dad, you can go,” I say, leaning against the hospital bed. Being stuck in here for the past twenty-four hours has been stifling.

“I’m not leaving you until you’re out of this room. I need to make sure you’re fully all right. You had a bad infection, Luciana. It could come back at any moment.”

“For right now, I’m fine. I need some space.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I sigh. Once again, he’s doing what he wants for himself and not what’s best for me. All because he loves me too much. It’s selfish of him but can I fully blame him? I can’t stop thinking of Matteo. When you love someone, that love can make you go a little crazy.

The nurse returns a moment later. “He’s out of surgery and resting. For right now, you need to rest and can’t leave your room but if you’re still doing well by tomorrow, you can go see him. He’s in room 205.”

“He’s alive?” I whisper as my tears hit me.

“He’s alive,” she says with a kind smile.

Thank god. After what Dante did to him, I was so worried but he survived and I did to. It’s a miracle.

No. It’s thanks to Matteo. He got us out of there.

“You look… relieved,” Dad murmurs after the nurse leaves.

“Of course I am. My husband is alive. That’s a good thing.”