Page 21 of Days Of Valentino

When I woke up, my parents were in the room with me, but Antonio wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong. I love my parents, but I wanted him. I needed him. I don’t think there will be a time I don’t need him. That I don’t want him.

The days that followed the shooting are fuzzy—thanks to the good drugs the hospital kept me doped up on. But now, it’s finally time to go home.

I’m currently stuck in the middle of an argument between my father and my fiancé. Dad isn’t pleased I’m not going back to my childhood home. Mom isn’t much better, but she’s at least pretending to be okay with it while I’m excited to see the house my future husband and I are supposed to grow old in.

Although I haven’t shown Antonio the estate I bought for us. I went with my Zio Theo to look at it and knew straight away it was what I wanted. It was where our future children were meant to be raised. Other than Zio Theo, no one knows I bought it. I really want Antonio to see it first.

“Papa, I’m okay. I’m going to be okay. We’ll come for Sunday dinner at Nonno’s,” I tell my father when he tries to insist I should go home with them again. Sunday is tomorrow. It’s not that long until they’ll see me.

“It’s safer for you to be at home, Tilly,” Dad argues.

Antonio opens his mouth. I can only imagine what he’s going to say, which is why I cut in before he can. “I’m going home, Papa. Please, don’t make this any harder for me,” I plead with him.

He sighs and wraps his arms around me. “Ti amo, Matilda. You are my world,” he whispers into my ear.

“Ti amo. I know,” I tell him. I have to pry myself out of his arms. He really doesn’t want to let me go.

“Dante will go with you,” Dad says.

“No, he won’t. Dante can go with you.” I laugh.

“Dante is right here,” my brother says while scowling at us.

“Come on, let’s go. Romeo, you need to let her go.” Mom tugs on my father’s arm before turning to my brother. “Dante, make sure Josie gets home okay.”

“Call me if you need anything,” Dante says, quickly hugging me before he escapes with his girlfriend.

After finally parting ways with my parents, Antonio opens the passenger door of the car and helps me climb inside. “You know they’re going to be calling you in under ten minutes.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” I sigh.

“Don’t be. They love you. If it were me, there’d be a bloodbath before I let you go home with anyone else.”

“Well, lucky for you I don’t want to go home with anyone else.” I lean in and press my lips to his.

“I count my blessings multiple times a day, babe,” Antonio says before closing the door. Seconds later, he’s sliding in beside me.

“Home?” Rafe asks from the driver’s seat. Emilio is sitting right next to him.

“Yeah,” Antonio says.

“Actually, I have somewhere else I need to go first,” I interject. “I’m sending you the address now.” I pull my phone out and text the address to Rafe.

“Where?” Antonio asks me.

“It’s a surprise.” I smile. I can’t wait any longer to show him the house I bought for us.

“Matilda, we can’t just go to random places without checking them out first. We need to run through security protocols,” Antonio tells me.

“This place is safe. Trust me. No one even knows about it, not even you. So, we’re going,” I tell him.

“Where is it?” he asks again.

“Like I said, it’s a surprise and it won’t be one if I tell you about it before we get there,” I remind him.

“I don’t care for surprises, Matilda. What I care for is your safety,” Antonio grunts. “Emilio, have some guys get there before we do, whereverthereis.”

“Nope, don’t do that, Emilio,” I say. Then I turn to my fiancé and take hold of his hand. “Antonio, I promise this place is safe. There are no monsters hiding in the shadows here. I’ve been waiting to show you this for a while. Please, don’t ruin the surprise.”

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