ログインGIANNA'S POVI pushed open the door to Dante's room, carrying the basin of warm water carefully balanced in my hands.The doctor had cleared him of any immediate danger. His recovery was faster than expected, but he still hadn't been cleared to move around on his own.He was supposed to be closely monitored to make sure he rested and didn't put any strain on his injuries.That someone, apparently, was me.Not that Dante had made it easy. He'd been impossible since the moment he regained consciousness. Yesterday, I'd caught him trying to get out of bed on his own, despite the doctor's orders.This morning, I walked in to find him sitting up, testing the movement in his injured shoulder with a grimace he clearly thought I wouldn't notice.The man had the self-preservation instincts of a kamikaze pilot.Dante sat on the edge of the bed now, already shirtless. The bandage across his shoulder was fresh, changed earlier this morning."Your personal nurse has arrived," I teased before settin
GIANNA'S POV Two days had passed since the shooting. Dante had been unconscious, and my heart hadn't been able to leave his side. My hand remained wrapped around his, fingers interlaced with his unresponsive ones. "I'm so sorry." My voice cracked. "Dante, I'm so sorry for everything." The words tumbled out, barely louder than a whisper. His face stayed peaceful, untouched by my confession. "I should have told you about my father. I should have trusted you." My thumb traced circles against his palm. "I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted you to get hurt because of me." My vision blurred. I blinked, and tears spilled down my cheeks. "Please forgive me." I leaned closer, my forehead nearly touching his shoulder. "Please, Dante. I can't lose you. Not like this. Not because of my mistakes." The machines beeped their steady rhythm. His chest rose, fell, and rose again. "I love you." The admission came easier now. "I know I haven't said it enough. I know I've been guarded
GIANNA'S POVBruno studied me for a long moment. Then he nodded, turning toward the stairs.He'd barely taken two steps when we heard footsteps echoing.We both turned.Selene appeared at the top of the stairs, her face pale and twisted with fury."What am I hearing?" Her voice was shrill, cutting through the large hall wall. "That Dante has been shot?"She took the stairs two at a time, her gaze locked on me. The look in her eyes was pure venom."You." She pointed at me, her hand shaking. "This is all your fault."I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The guilt was too heavy, pressing down on my chest until I couldn't breathe."You stupid bitch." Selene lunged for me, her hands reaching for my throat.Bruno stepped between us, catching her wrists before she could make contact."Selene." His voice was commanding. "Get it together.""Get it together?" She tried to wrench free, her face flushing red. "Dante is in there. He's been shot. And it's all because of her."She spat the last
GIANNA'S POVThe blood wouldn't stop.I pressed my hands harder against his chest, feeling the warmth seep through my fingers. Too much. There was too much of it.The white shirt he'd been wearing was completely soaked through, crimson spreading across the fabric like spilled wine."Dante." My voice came out strangled. "Dante, please."His eyes were closed. His face had gone pale, all that life draining away until he looked like a cold beautiful marble."Move aside, Mrs. De Luca." One of the nurses, a woman with graying hair pulled back in a tight bun, gently tried to pull me away. "We need space to work.""No." I shook my head, keeping my hands pressed to the wound. "I need to stop the bleeding. I can't... I can't...""Gianna." Bruno's voice came from somewhere behind me. "Please let them do their job."The estate had an emergency ward. I'd had no idea it even existed until Bruno had rushed us through a hidden door in the east wing, down a flight of stairs, into what looked like a fu
DANTE'S POVThe trust in her eyes broke my insides and mended it at the same time."You think you have this figured out." I took a slow step forward. "You think holding her makes you safe. But you're wrong.""Am I?" Lorenzo's laugh was nervous. "Then go ahead. Take the shot. See what happens. See if you're fast enough to hit me without hitting her. Are you willing to take that risk?""Dad, stop this." Gianna's voice was hoarse and breaking. "This isn't... you don't have to do this. Please. If you ever loved me, if any of it was real, just stop.""I'm doing this because I love you!" Lorenzo shouted, his composure shifting. "To save you from him! Why can't you see that? Why can't you understand?""Because you're not saving me!" Tears streamed down her face, her voice rising with each word. "You're using me! Just like you've always used me! I'm not your daughter, I'm just a tool to you. A bargaining chip. Something to hide behind when you're scared!"The words provoked Lorenzo even furth
DANTE'S POVMy heart had been ripped out of my chest the moment Bruno called.Gianna ditched security. The words had sent every worst fear crashing through me. But even in my darkest imaginings, I'd never expected to find her here, in a meeting with her father. The betrayal cut deep, a wound that would scar. But I couldn't focus on that. Not when the man who'd destroyed my entire world, the ghost I'd hunted for years, was standing across the room with his hands on my wife.I raised my gun, aiming directly at Lorenzo's head."Dante." She gasped my name like salvation.She's relieved to see me. After running from my protection. After meeting with him behind my back.The thought burned through me, but I shoved it down. Later. I'd deal with the betrayal later.Lorenzo's grip tightened on her arm as a slow, cruel smile spread across his face."De Luca." His voice dripped with dark amusement. "We finally meet again.""The coward who faked his own death." My finger tightened on the trigger.
Gianna’s POVThe reception was in full swing.A live band played from the corner, classical and elegant. The music drifted through the hall, turning the evening into something otherworldly.The long table was draped in white silk and covered with elaborate floral arrangements. We were seated at the
Dante's POV I hadn’t expected breakfast to be simple, but I didn’t expect it to nearly blow up in my face either. When I walked in and heard the way my sister-in-law and my daughter spoke to Gianna, so condescending and cruel, I saw the hurt in Gianna’s eyes, and it broke me in ways I couldn’t exp
Dante's POVI knew Gianna's promise not to harm herself wasn't enough. I had to give her a way out, some control she could hold onto, or she'd never stop trying to escape."And in return for giving me your word, I'll strike another deal with you."Her eyebrows lifted. "What kind of deal?""I propos
Dante's POV The moment her hand moved, I lunged. I didn’t waste a second or stop to consider the consequences. My protective instinct rose so fast it drowned everything else out, and all that mattered was reaching her, stopping her, closing the space between us in a heartbeat. I grabbed her wrist







