Page 72 of Vow of Desire

“That fucker is still alive,” I growl. “Dante did this to us. Just because he thought it would be fun.”

“We’ll handle him later,” Gabriel says. “Don’t worry. For right now, let’s just focus on getting you and Luciana to safety.”

I don’t keep my eyes off Luciana the entire drive. When I reach out for her, Rocco pulls her away from me. “She’s my wife,” I growl.

“And she’s hurt. On your watch. I’m pissed but I’m holding it together until Luciana is safe.”

I don’t argue with him right now. I don’t have the strength.

Gabriel pulls up to the hospital, which is a welcomed sight. The moment I step foot out of the car, dizziness overtakes me and I fall to the ground.

“Shit,” Gabriel says, bending down to help me. But before I even know it, blackness overtakes my vision.

And everything goes quiet.

Luciana

My eyes blink open to see my father looking at me. The sight of him offers me comfort but as soon as it comes, worry fills my heart. Am I dead? Is this heaven?

But a quick look around the room shows I’m in a hospital. The beeping of the monitor beside me. The IV in my arm. The itchy hospital gown around my body.

“Am I alive?” I whisper.

“You’re alive, sweetheart.” Dad takes my hand and squeezes it before bringing it to his lips. “You’re all right. You had a bad infection in your foot but the doctors fixed you right up. You should be up and walking in just a few days. You’ll have to use crutches until the wound in your foot heels but you’re fine. The worst of the infection is gone. You’re on the mend.”

“I’m tired.”

“I believe it. You went through an ordeal. I don’t know the full story but it’s obvious you were hurt. That asshole hurt you.”

“Dante.”

“Yes. You were supposed to be protected. But you weren’t protected. You were hurt. I should kill that man if I could get my hands on him.”

I frown. “On who?”

He blinks like it’s obvious I should know who he’s talking about but I have no clue. “Your husband. Matteo.”

“Why would you want to kill Matteo?”

“Because you weren’t supposed to get hurt on his watch. The peace deal is off. I’m going to kill him the second he leaves the hospital.”

My chest squeezes in panic. “The hospital? Is he hurt? Dante kept kicking him and kicking him. Is he hurt?”

“He’s in surgery. Internal bleeding apparently. If he dies in surgery, then good riddance.”

“He’s not out yet?”

My dad shrugs like it’s not a big deal. “I haven’t heard anything. I’ve been in here with you all these hours. You needed me. I was here to help.”

I pull my hand from his and the shock on his face is palpable. “Dad… Matteo helped save my life. He took the brunt force of Dante’s torture so I wouldn’t have to. I was a little out of it but I remember enough. He got me out of the hot box. He shot that guard. He got me out. He did. Not you.”

Dad flinches like I just hit him. “But I got you to the hospital.”

“I don’t remember any of that. At some point, I only remember darkness and now waking up here. But I do know that Matteo helped save my life. Why in the world do you want him dead? He told Dante to torture him so I wouldn’t be hurt. Isn’t that the kind of man you want for me? One who is selfless and puts me before him?”

“Well… yes. But Matteo still promised to protect you and he couldn’t do that. Dante never should have been able to hurt you in the first place. Matteo needs to die for doing a bad job. He made a vow and broke it.”

I stare at my father for a long time, trying to process what to say. “Daddy… don’t kill my husband.”