Page 25 of Savior
The slightest part of me could crack a smile at that, but I don’t. I give him the benefit of the doubt, however, and let him speak.
“I may have misjudged you. And I can see, that you love my daughter.”
“I do love her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Nothing I wouldn’t protect her from.” It’s another warning I hope he picks up on, because he and his wife fall under that expansive umbrella.
I don’t think Giuliana is a threat. Though I did notice Vanna’s apprehension about introducing us. Giuliana is just as much a victim of their parents’ judgements and standards as Vanna is. I knew the moment she smiled at me, in that way, that Giuliana has a need ingrained in her to be recognized as the most beautiful woman in whatever room she’s in. And it’s more than the typical female desire to be. I feel bad for her. I think she loves her sister enough that she wouldn’t out right make a pass at me for the validation she seeks. Though, she did want me to notice her. To compare her to her sister and find her to be the more physically attractive of the two. She’s beautiful. Any guy would bend over backwards to have a woman like Giuliana on his arm. But I only have eyes for my Vanna. My heart and soul belong to her. For me, Vanna is my perfect woman. My standard of beauty. My one and only.
“Yes.” He sighs. “I do see that. I hope you can believe this, but I do only want the best for my daughters.”
I stare him straight in the eyes when I tell him, “Not only would I kill for your daughter, I have killed for her. And I would do it again. Not only would I die for your daughter, I have nearly died for her. I’d lay my life down for her in a heartbeat. But I am also vowing to live for her. To dedicate my life to her happiness. Her wellbeing. I love your daughter. Believe me when I tell you, there’s nothing you, or anyone else can do or say, that will stop me. Nothing that will ever keep me from her. I’m going to marry Vanna. You don’t have to like it. Hell, you can hate it with every fiber of your being. But you’re going to have to accept it.”
One of his brows raises. “You speak of your love for her as if it’s a threat to everything else. Your words are heartfelt. But your tone is deadly.”
“My love for her is a threat. To everything that would seek to cause her any bit of unhappiness. It’s a fucking death sentence, to anything that would seek to harm her… Jack learned that the hard way.”
He studies me for a long moment before he speaks again. “You’ve been through some shit. I can tell. There’s an edge to you. Something dangerous… I noticed the American Flags in your bar and home. Have you served?”
“Time?” I joke.
He chuckles. “I meant Military, but never mind. It’s not important. All I care about is that you keep your word. Everything you just said to me. You better mean it.”
“I swear I do. I’ll never hurt her. I’d kill myself first. So, you can hop back in that pretentious green Jag, and drive off knowing your daughter will have a good life with me.”
“Pretentious green Jag.” He repeats my words, shaking his head, though he’s still smiling. “That’s a seventy-thousand-dollar car.”
I shrug, unimpressed. “It ain’t a Harley.” It ain’t Serene…
“A ognuno il suo.” He says with a slight grin.
“I happen to agree.” I suppress my own.
He seems surprised, as I expected. “You understood that?”
“To each their own.”
“Thought you were Scottish, or Irish. Dean Keegan. Didn’t know you spoke any Italian. Where’d you pick that up?”
“You probably don’t want to know.”
“You’re probably right.” He laughs, though uncomfortably. “Let me have a few over-due words with Giovanna, then we’ll be on our way.”
I nod, and take a seat in one of the Adirondack chairs to give them a little alone time inside.
Vanna’s family leaves us about thirty minutes later. Her lingering hug with her father tells me all I need to know. He finally did apologize to her, and I hope it brings her some contentment, if not some degree of healing in all this. At least they’re on the road to reconciliation. And her family is finally on the road back to New York!”
“What did you say to my father?” she asks, once we’re back inside the kitchen, just us.
“I don’t know. Guy talk.” I shrug. She gives me a skeptical look, attempting to pull a little more information out of me. “Just told him I love you and that we’re getting married whether he likes it or not.”
“Well, whatever you said, his attitude about you has certainly changed.”
“I don’t care what they think of me, baby. All I give a shit about is that he apologized to you. I know it doesn’t undo anything, but…”
“It’s a start.” She says softly, then glances around at all of the wrapped platters. “What am I going to do with all of this food? What the hell was I thinking? A majority of this isn’t any good next day.”
“I can fix this.” I grin, pulling out my cellphone.
“Are you calling Viking?” she laughs. “You know damn well he isn’t going to share. He’s going to human garbage disposal everything himself. Probably get himself sick in the process.”
