Chapter 75
Emily
The days after Domenico’s heart attack were somber. Thank God, he survived, but the air in the maraton had never been darker than had been these days. It was like every bit of joy had been sucked out of its walls.
Domenico had been glued to his bed, with a doctor by his side–but he was doing better. It was crazy to flank that one image had prated tam over the edge, leading to a heart attack.
“Why is it taking so long?” Alessio huffed, leaning against the wall as we waited in front of Domenico’s room.
He had specifically asked for both of us, and said it was important. If it was only Alessio, I could understand–but now that I was in it, I began to ter the worst.
It couldn’t be something small.
Maybe he would tell us that the doctor had found something, and he was terminally ill.
Maybe he would blame me for his heart attack and tell me it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t dropped that picture.
Or maybe he would blame me for everything because everything seEmilyed to go downhill since I stepped foot inside this mansion.
“Are you okay?” Alessio broke through my thoughts.
“I’m fine.”
“Then why are you biting your lips?”
I smiled. “Because you’re too damn sexy,” I spoke teasingly.
Alessio smiled back, shaking his head. Ever since Domenico’s heart attack, he had changed a little. He had turned a bit colder, but not specifically toward me, just in general.
It was like he was plotting revenge in his mind, every second, and I knew that because he had made it clear to me when his dad was in the hospital.
My mind drifted back to those rough words he spoke to me back then.
I don’t ever want to fight you again–but when I get my hands on that fucker and cut him into pieces, I better not hear a word from you.‘
The way he had said it sounded so terrifying, I didn’t even try to disagree. I understood where he was coming from, I really did.
Jason was dangerous, a threat not just to me but to everyone he cared about.
He was a nightmare I had already experienced before, yet, I couldn’t forget that he was also Naty’s father. I didn’t want him around her because he wasn’t good to her, but years from now, I didn’t want to tell my daughter that her stepfather slaughtered her birth father in some crazy mafia war.
That was insane.
Feeling Emilybarrassed about bringing Jason into their lives was an understatEmilyent. Despite everything, no one in the Fanucci family blamed me
for the chaos.
Nothing much on Gian, but that was something I didn’t want to think about.
Other than that, if there were any looks of judgment or whispers, they had never reached me.
As time went by, the family doctor left the room with a calm expression. “You can go in now,” he spoke.
“Thank you.” Alessio said, grabbing my hand as we entered the room.
Domenico was in bed with the sheets neatly tucked around him. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, and a kind smile was plastered on his face.
“I’ll go find thEmily downstairs.” Giulia, who was by his side as always, whispered as she tucked him in one last time. Then she got up and walked over to Alessio with a gentle smile.
The Return of My First Love
“Mom,” he greeted her.
“Son,” she mocked him with a chuide. She rested her hands on los checks and send hiss on the bed onto she looked at him the same way I looked at Naty 1 could sense flere was some kind of ronaning befour lavede
“Take care of him,” she gestured to Domenico, and then she quetly left the room
Domenico beckoned us closer with a wave of his hand. It wasn’t as weak as it had been the first day he kneed happier to pr
We moved closer and each sat down on a chair on each side of the bed “You’re beginning to work bener Ale use
“I feel better,” Domenico responded. Alessio, who had never been that affectionate with his dad, grabbed his hand with a satetwe
The fear of almost losing his dad on top of everything must have shakes him to the core I didn’t know that feeling rate the sworn not to argue with him ever again and hold on to hire fipletly.
“What did you want to tell us? Alessio asked.
“I’m waiting for your brothers, and I also told your mom to get your two people, you’ll need toddly?
By your two people, I assumed he meant Donni and Levi. There were two variations of the three musketeers, and was
it would’ve been Alessio with those two.
“What do I need thEmily for?” Alessio worried, bracing himself for what might come next. 1 really prayed to God that wordd be somet serious because I wasn’t sure how much more that family could take.
My brain was working overtime again, but now my thoughts went to revenge. Although he was still bound to a worker fram home, Stefano had been buried, and Domenico was doing better.
There was no reason not to move on with the revenge,
After some time the room was filled with Donni, Levi, Dante, and Gian. While the three had given me brief undies and nods, I still dider dare te keur Gian. I wasn’t about to Emilybarrass myself.
When everyone got settled, Domenico used his strength to sit up. His hand was still in Alessio’s as it had been since he sat down by heade Time you all here together because I want to discuss something.”
There was a moment of silence as everyone anticipated his words.
“After staying in bed for days, I’ve had time to think about what is good for me and this family,” Domenico began. “What’s best for me and the family to step down and leave everything to Alessio.”
Alessio’s widened his eyes, “Dad-”
Domenico shut him up with a scoff. “All of this was already meant to be yours from the day you were born–and now that you have a family of your own, a good woman and a beautiful daughter, I can finally stop holding your hand,” he spoke as he released himself from his grip. Take care of pr family, take care of the business, can you do it or not?”
It wasn’t that different from what he had done during the time Domenico was on bed rest. Hearing Domenico refer to Naty as his daughter fugir a sense of peace to my heart.
How could I ever have thought this man called us up here to blame me for anything?
Alessio locked his eyes with mine, then gave me a comforting smile.
“Yes,” he spoke, determined. “Of course, I can.”
Because of those promised words, Domenico held the same speech in the same ballroom where my story with Alessio began. Only this time, all that horrible with all the Fanuccis and those who worked for thEmily present.
“What’s best for me and this family is to step down and leave everything to Alessio,” he repeated his words, leaving a trail of shocked and surprised faces as everyone’s eyes turned to Alessio.
“I’ve been preparing him for this moment for years, and there’s no one better to lead this family than him.”
Hearing him say those words again, even more confidently than the last time, was proof that he had put all his faith in Alessio
Love
ryone staying death–myarry came fake it anymore he said Twill go back to Italy
hand took in Alaginoit he planning whian we and all hown waiting for
fhope yed trast Emily, as kindly as your on terained Gilia”
All was formed to a tow going me a look of acceptanes or curiosity while a four were most likely skeptical. I forced a smile on my lips, hoping for
var fhur bring it–I want you all to follow his lead as he Burns every Baldini and this Jason Falco to the wake” Domenico declared in a loud tone. The 1 roped insa applause and cheers. “By the end of it all, I want every head, every limb, every heart right here in this room so we can look hand ptnamlier who we are and what we stand fot
by each word that left his month, the pit in my stomach only turned worse while the enthusiasm of those in the room, including Alessio’s, turned
While a part of me understood the need for pastice, there was also a part of me wondering if they really had to go that far.
Parate had a hofore and I would say it aga
