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Her fingers twitch in mine, a feeble attempt at a reassuring squeeze. “I don’t feel like you need it but I forgive you, Matteo. I’m not angry with you.”

The selflessness in her words cuts me to the core. Even now, lying in a hospital bed, poisoned and fighting for her life, she’s trying to comfort me. The realization of how much I’ve taken her for granted crashes over me like a tidal wave.

“No,” I say firmly, bringing her hand to my lips. “No more excuses. I want to do this with you, Maria. I want to be all in with you.”

Her eyes widen slightly. “Are you saying…?”

“Yes,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m saying I want us to be real. No more pretending, no more distance.”

Maria’s eyes fill with tears, a mix of hope and disbelief shimmering. “Matteo, I… are you sure? This isn’t just because I’m in the hospital?”

I shake my head. “No, amore. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Seeing you like this… it’s made me realize how much I could lose. How much I’ve already been losing by keeping you at arm’s length.”

A small, tentative smile curves her lips. “I want that, too,” she whispers. “So much.”

I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Then we’ll make it happen. Together.”

She nods weakly, her eyelids fluttering as exhaustion begins to overtake her. “Matteo,” she murmurs, her voice fading, “I’m so tired…”

“Rest, amore,” I whisper, gently stroking her cheek. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

As Maria drifts off to sleep, I lean back in the chair, my mind racing. Someone has been poisoning her, and I have a sinking feeling I know who’s behind it. Giacomo. But how? How would he have access to her?

Either I have a mole or an enemy from within. Regardless, whoever dared to touch my wife has already sealed their fate. And when I find them… they’ll beg for death before I’m done.

23

MARIA

Nine days. That’s how long I stay in the hospital. They monitor me closely, and my husband hovers like a helicopter. At first, it was endearing to have him so close, but then at some point, I got annoyed.

“I’m not going to break, Matteo.” I scowl at him as I get off the side of the bed. “The doctor has cleared me to go home and you are going to have to stop being so… so… this.” I gesture to his tall stature.

He gives me an incredulous look to which I just bat my eyelashes. It’s crazy how easily we slipped into this new dynamic. And all it took was me being on the brink of death for him to finally give me—us—a chance.

“I just want you to be careful,” he says, offering me his arm, which I take. “I need you to keep on this upward trend of getting better. You were being poisoned and I… I can’t trust anyone near you right now.”

My stomach twists at his words, and I shake my head, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Matteo, you can’t just go around suspecting everyone. Not everyone is out to hurt me.”

We walk out the door and are greeted by Tony. “Boss, ma’am.”

“Tony, please get my wife’s bag inside. I will take her down to the car and wait for you. I need to head to the eastern side of town.”

My head snaps in his direction. “Well, this is a shock. You haven’t left my side for nine days, and now the moment I’m going home, you’re jumping at the first chance to leave? Unbelievable.”

“Shut up.” He kisses the side of my head and playfully nips at my ear. “I need to attend to the work I have been putting off. I will be home within three hours, not a second later. If I didn’t need to go, you know I would be at your side.”

My heart warms at his words. We walk to the elevator meant to take us down to the parking garage. “Thank you for being here with me.”

We walk inside, arm in arm into the empty elevator. As the doors close, he pulls me into his chest and he holds me there. The silence that surrounds us is thick and filled with emotion. All I can think and feel is him. He surrounds me and consumes me the way a tsunami would a beach.

“You never have to thank me for doing my job, cara mia. I am meant to protect and honor you.” He mutters the words into my hair. A shiver of pleasure runs up and down my spine. Matteo pulls away to look at me. “What’s with the look on your face?”

“Nothing.” I lean into his side and take in his warmth. “Nothing at all.”

Matteo helps me into the car. Once I’m settled, he reaches over to fasten my seatbelt, his movements careful—almost reverent. But then he stills, his face just inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. His eyes burn through me, cutting straight to the core of my being.

He leans in, his lips capturing mine in a deep, consuming kiss that sends me spiraling into weightlessness. My heart soars, pounding wildly—like a hammer striking metal, relentless and unyielding.