Page 85 of His to Destroy

A brother.

A piece of myself.

And I’ll carry that scar as long as I breathe.

I lean back in the chair and close my eyes for a moment, letting the quiet seep into my bones.

Then, slowly, I reach for the only anchor I have left.

I pull out my phone and dial Almeria’s number.

She answers on the first ring, her voice soft, uncertain.

"Gaspare?"

I close my eyes, letting the sound of her calm me.

"It’s done," I say quietly. "You’re safe now. Luca’s safe."

There’s a long pause.

Then, softly, she says, "Come home."

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself believe that maybe—just maybe—there’s a future waiting for me.

One not built on betrayal or blood.

But on love.

On loyalty.

On redemption.

I’ll mourn tonight.

But tomorrow—

Tomorrow, I’ll go home.

To her. To Luca.

Because I didn’t realize early enough that I wasn’t fighting this war for a throne.

I fought it for a future.

And I’ll be damned if I let anyone—past, present, or future—ever take it from me again.

Chapter 18 – Almeria

The knock at the door is soft, almost hesitant.

It doesn’t match the man I know who’s waiting on the other side.

Gaspare Colosimo never knocks like he’s unsure.

But tonight, everything feels different.

My heart pounds in my chest as I rise from the couch, crossing the marble floor with slow, careful steps. Luca is already asleep upstairs. The house is quiet, blanketed in a kind of heavy stillness that only heightens my racing thoughts.

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