Page 100 of The Bonventi War
I don't ask for details. I don't need to know exactly how Gio executed the man who tried to claim me as payment. The darkness in his eyes tells me enough.
"Your arm," I say instead, nodding at the blood-soaked bandage. "Where the fuck is your doctor?"
"Raven. Baby, relax. It's a through-and-through. Bullet missed the bone." He says it so casually, as if being shot is just a minor inconvenience rather than something that could have taken him from me forever.
"Jesus, Gio. Getting shot is a big deal." My voice rises in panic.
He captures my face with his good hand, forcing me to look at him. "I'm okay. I promise you. I've had worse."
That doesn't reassure me at all. But I can't overreact and lose my shit. I've got to stay as focused as I can, if not for me, for him—my future husband, my life.
"Okay… okay. So, what about repercussions?" I ask. "Won't the Russians just come after us now?"
Gio shakes his head. "Viktor was operating outside the organization here in Chicago. The debt wasn't owed to them, but to him personally. Since he's gone, that debt dies with him." He takes another sip of water. "We'll have to decide what to do with the Russians eventually, but that's a story for another time." His eyes soften as they meet mine. "You're safe, Raven. This is all over now."
Relief crashes over me in waves. I hadn't realized until this moment just how much fear I'd been carrying.
Unexpectedly, a laugh escapes my lips. "Crazy how much I want to be a part of your fucked-up world. If you promise to always protect me the way you have…" I take his hand, squeezing it gently. "I mean, what more could a girl want?"
Gio flashes a possessive smile, the look that first terrified me and now makes heat pool low in my belly. He pulls me closer, his lips brushing mine. "I swear to my dying day, I'll kill anyone who does you wrong."
"Okay, maybe not killallthe time," I laugh against his mouth. "But yeah... do you think we can focus on something fun now? Like our wedding?"
Gio grins, taking my hand and rubbing his thumb over my engagement ring. "Or baby names," he teases.
I roll my eyes, even as my heart skips a beat at the thought. "Well, I've got to get pregnant first."
He cups my face, wincing slightly with the movement. "You will."
Before I can respond, someone knocks at the door.
"That'll be Dr. Russo," Gio says.
"I'll let him in."
I open the door to find a gray-haired man with kind eyes and a serious expression, medical bag in hand. He doesn't seem surprised by the blood or the late hour. I wonder how often he's patched Gio up over the years.
"This way, please," I say, leading him to the kitchen.
Dr. Russo works efficiently, cutting away Gio's shirt and cleaning the wound. He confirms that the bullet didn't do any major damage. It'll require stitches but nothing serious. I sit beside Gio the entire time, holding his good hand, watching him barely flinch as the doctor works.
"Keep it clean, change the dressing twice a day," Dr. Russo instructs as he bandages Gio's arm. "No heavy lifting for at least a week."
Gio nods, but I can tell from the look in his eyes that he'll ignore half of those instructions.
"I'll make sure he follows orders," I say firmly, earning an amused look from both men.
After the doctor leaves, I help Gio upstairs to the bedroom. He sits heavily on the edge of the bed while I find him clean clothes. Despite everything, despite the blood and violence of this night, I feel strangely at peace.
As I help him into a clean shirt, careful of his wounded arm, I realize I wouldn't have it any other way. My gallery is gone, my father is dead, and for the first time in years, I feel like I'm exactly where I belong.
41
EPILOGUE - RAVEN
It's been four months since Gio came home with a damn bullet hole in his arm, telling me it was over. To his defense, so far, he's been right.
The Russians had a meeting with Enzo and fully denied they had anything to do with me or Marco's shooting, claiming Viktor acted alone. Of course, no one believes them, but it's better to play nice than fight.
