Page 83 of Tragic Empire

Colton gasps. “You take that back.”

I snort at their antics and watch as the door clicks shut.

“How are you feeling, Ana?” Dante asks, a soft concern in his voice.

Unexpected giggles bubble out of me. “Doc gave me Morphine, I feelverygood.”

A tentative smile twitches on his lips. “I’ll bet you do. You gave us all quite the scare, I’m glad it turned out to be a false alarm.”

A big sigh leaves me and I nod slowly. “Meeee too. I’m tired of bad things happening all the time, Dad.”

It doesn’t occur to me what I’ve just said until I see the shift of surprise on his face.

“I-I mean…” I cringe, not knowing what to?—

“Don’t correct yourself, Ana,” he cuts in. “I told you, you are a Moretti daughter.MyMoretti daughter. Call me Dad, or Father, or whatever it is that feels natural to you.”

Suddenly misty-eyed, my throat bobs. “You don’t have to—be so good to me, I mean. You’ve already given me so much, more than I’ve ever had.”

“It’s not a burden to bring you into this family,” Dante tells me sternly. “I have extensive practice being a father. I assure you, one more daughter won’t break me.”

His words warm my stomach and cause a singular tear to fall. Sniffling back the tender emotions, I offer a watery smile.

“I didn’t honestly expect a whole family to come with my wedding vows,” I admit quietly. “It’s nice… more than I need, really. Cassio would be enough.”

Dante’s tentative smile broadens into a full-on grin. “Now, how couldn’t I make the woman who brought my son back to life one of my own, hmm?”

I’ve never had a dad before, not really.

Bron has only been in my life for a few years, and he never cemented himself as a father figure. But somehow, after less than a year of knowing him, calling Dante ‘Dad’ just feels right.

“Okay, Dad,” I murmur.

His smile of approval feels like a warm hug.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

Cassio

The Moretti brother group chat is going wild by the time we get home from the hospital. Apparently Apollo hasn’t seen fit to keep his mouth shut.

Elio

Heard your wife offed someone, nice.

Matteo

Our little Ana did? Why is this the first I’m hearing of this! I want details.

Nico

I’m not surprised. I’d stab someone if I had to live in that dreadful city too.

Matteo

Yeah, THAT’S why you’d stab someone. *eye roll emoji*

Sighing, I start to type.