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“I love you,” I repeat, again and again. I know these words will heal her.
* * *
It’s been forty-eight hours.
Willow came out of her shock slowly, after a long hot shower with me scrubbing the blood and bits of bone from her skin. We made love; she knows how I feel. Then we had tea and she slept for eighteen hours straight. Now we walk hand in hand into my father’s hospital room. He is sitting up this time, alert and calm. Willow clings to my hand, but she has no reason to be scared now. I have never felt more confident about that in my life.
“Leonid,” Dad says, looking me in the eye. Then he looks at her. “Willow, welcome.” He holds his hand out toward her and she glances at me nervously. I nod at him and she goes to him, taking his hand. “I hear that you saved my son’s life.”
Willow shakes her head and licks her lips. “They would have killed him.” It’s the same response she gave Dominic and Matty when they visited. Rome hasn’t been around, too busy hunting L’ombra now to bother with this sort of thing. The war has only started between us and the Italians.
“And I hear you’re going to give me a grandson?” His lips curl into a genuine smile. It’s nice to see him happy, though I’m not sure he understands how his actions have affected Willow over the years. I know she’s not happy to be here; though she is happy to have my baby. We just both agree that we must keep our little one away from the violence, at least as long as possible.
“Yes.” Willow’s answer is curt and short. Dad drops her hand and nods at me.
“You have my blessing.” Dad’s stoic expression returns. He won’t tell her that her father traded his morality for her life. That having another cop on our payroll is the only reason he will be accepting of her. The only reason he allowed me to come save her.
“Thank you, sir.” She steps back and finds my hand waiting for her.
“Is it done?” I ask, knowing the next thing we are about to do. I’m not ready for this, because I have to answer for a lot of wrongs in my life, but this one is the worst one.
“It’s done.” He eyes me and Willow looks up at me with confusion.
“What’s done?” she whispers. I squeeze her hand reassuringly.
“Right now?” I ask him and he nods. Then he picks up his crossword book and opens it. He has nothing more to say to us, and I have great respect for him now. It takes a very big man to do the things he’s done for me. I never knew my father loved me until all of this happened; I just wish I hadn’t had to beg for it.
I turn and lead Willow out of the room. She follows me, but remains one step behind, her hand clasped in mine. “What’s going on, Leo?” she asks, feet slapping on the tile floor.
“You’ll see,” I tell her, navigating toward the family waiting room. Sven stands outside the door, watching us approach. His expression tells me he’s had a day and doesn’t have two fucks to give about this, but this could very well be the best day of Willow’s life.
“Leo, what’s going on?” she asks again, and as we walk up to Sven, he pulls the door handle down, and pushes the door open.
“Someone is waiting for you in there,” I tell her, nodding at the door.
“Who? What’s this about?” Willow’s eyes flick between my face and Sven’s.
“You’ll see,” I tell her again. I gently nudge her toward the open door and look into Sven’s eyes. “Thank you” I mouth, knowing it was him who brought Willow’s father here. She moves to the door and steps into it.
“Daddy?” I hear her whine, and Sven shuts the door.
Our story has a happily ever after because I refused to quit. Except now, my family is plunged into the biggest rivalry with our enemies we’ve ever had. Matty’s off trying to keep the reporters off our case, and Rome is searching for the person who could be the deadliest assassin we’ve ever faced. But I have Willow, and I will never let her fall into the hands of my enemy again.
I look into Sven’s eyes and nod at him. He’s free to go. But my job has just started.