Page 112 of Fierce Hearts

We were silent for a moment at the heaviness of those words. But it was a battle for another time. We'd won the main battle for now.

"Grayson Donati, I'm still adjusting to my new name," Gray mused after a few moments. Upon arriving home, one of Canzio's men had met us, offering us the formal documents of the name change, adopting Gray into the Donati family.

The Cassaro line had been extinguished now.

"Finally my brother fully," Leo stated, his mouth curling even more.

"It's going to be a long road ahead," I said. "Demolishing the Savoca ways of treating their women. The older generation will be difficult to change."

"But the future generations and future women will be happy," Gray stated, his hand covering mine. "That's what matters."

"It'll all work out," Leo assured me. "You're a strong woman, and you have strong women around you and loyal family."

"And the Donatis will support you." Gray's lips brushed against my temple. "And I'm right here with you."

I let his words sink in, allowing myself to believe them. Maybe it would be okay. Maybe we could change things without too much pushback. But I'd need to prepare, be on guard for everything.

Voices from the front door distracted us from our somber conversation.

My mother and Meredith entered the living room, arms laden with shopping bags, their faces flushed from the cool evening air. Roman had taken them out for some shopping, and the pair were carrying bags of groceries.

"We've got everything for dinner," my mother announced, her eyes scanning the room and landing on me with maternal concern. "How are you feeling, tesoro?"

"Better," I admitted.

Meredith's face brightened. "Perfect! We thought we'd make that eggplant parmesan you love so much. Gabriella has been telling me all about it.”

"With homemade garlic bread," my mother added, already heading toward the kitchen. "Leonardo, come help me with these bags."

Leo's eyebrows shot up at the command, but he moved to assist without complaint. I bit back a smile at the sight of the formidable Leo Donati being ordered around by my mother.

"I'll help too," Gray offered, starting to rise, but my mother waved him off.

"You stay with Sofia. You're still healing."

Gray knew better than to argue as he sank back onto the couch beside me.

The kitchen soon filled with the sounds of chopping, sizzling, and my mother's gentle instructions to Leo and Meredith. The familiar domestic noises washed over me, soothing the ragged edges of my soul after everything we'd been through.

"This is nice," I murmured, leaning my head against Gray's shoulder. "Everyone together like this."

Gray pressed a kiss to my hair. "It is. This is what family should be."

Family. The word held new meaning now. Not just the Savoca name and all its bloody history, but this—people who loved each other, protecting and caring for one another.

When dinner was ready, we gathered around my dining table, which suddenly seemed too small for all the love it contained. The eggplant parmesan was perfect, the garlic bread crusty and aromatic. Wine for everyone except me—I had sparkling water with lemon instead.

"Sofia was the most stubborn child," my mother said, her eyes twinkling as she refilled Leo's wine glass. "Once, when she was five, she refused to wear anything but her ballet tutu for two weeks straight."

"Mom," I groaned, feeling my cheeks warm.

"It's true! I had to wash it while she slept and put it back before she woke up." My mother laughed, the sound lighter than I'd ever heard it. "She even wore it to her father's business dinners with the family."

"I bet that went over well," Meredith said, grinning at me across the table.

"Antonio was furious at first," my mother continued, her expression softening at the memory. "But then Sofia did a perfect pirouette for the family, and they all applauded. Even Antonio couldn't stay angry after that."

I hadn't thought about that night in years. It was one of my earliest memories, and one of the few warm ones I had of my father—his reluctant smile as I twirled in my pink tutu, his large hand gentle on my head afterward.

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