Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 66: Chapter 66

TERZO
Francesco called his men to stand down and surrendered. I would not take her alive if it weren’t for Dani. As he was taken into the vehicle, I couldn’t help but think of Marco.
We arrived back at the compound. Francesco tried to snatch a gun.
I hit him with the foot of my weapon on his head. He landed on the ground. I knelt and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “I’ll make sure you won’t die quickly, asshole.”
Tristan grabbed him from the ground. “Don’t try it again, or I will chain you to the floor and starve you to death till you beg for me to kill you.”
“Bring him to the cell. Make sure to double-lock the door.” I looked at everyone. They were all hyper-alert. The gate was heavily guarded. Men were spread across the compound, guarding perimeters and the houses.
“Luca!” I spotted him, and he came running to me. “Keep your eye on the monitors. Ask someone to help you. Any small glitch, fix it and inform me immediately.”
“They’re going home safe,” Papa said, informing me about our friends and associates.
“Thanks, Papa. Is Nicolette still here?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded. “Get inside and take a rest. I’ll call Osmium for help. I’ll interrogate that motherfucker once I see Dani.”
“You did good, son. I’m proud of you.” He patted my back. He didn’t have to tell. I could see it in his eyes.
I managed to put a small smile on my face. “I’ll see you later.”
Another vehicle approached. The old doctor, Dr. Valerio, climbed out of his car. “Sorry, I’m late. I have to make many turns to avoid being followed. And police cars and patrols are all over the city.”
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
“Sergio!” I pointed at him. “Sweep all the vehicles. Make sure they’re clean from bugs and trackers. If I check and find one, you will join Giordani in the cell.” The cell I mentioned was a basement with thick steel and concrete.
“Got it, boss.” He mocked a salute.
I entered the house, but the person I’d been longing to see wasn’t there. Dr. Valerio went to Marco’s room to treat him.
“Oh, thank God you’re okay.” Celestina hugged me. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah.” I looked at her. She looked worried and exhausted. “We got Giordani, but we’ll talk about it later.”
“You got a good woman, Terzo.” Nicolette smiled and hugged me. “She’s one of a kind.”
“What do you mean?” I knew she was talking about Dani.
“She saved Marco,” Gio said.
“You left her with Marco, Gio. That was reckless. She could have been shot and died.” Anger and relief mixed in my veins.
“It happened so fast, brother,” Celestina said, defending Gio. “She was just behind us, and then she went back to take Marco. He would have been dead by now or tortured, but that’s not what we’re talking about.”
My eyes narrowed in confusion.
“She took the bullet from Marco’s wound and patched him up like a pro.” Nicolette patted my arm. “You should send her to study medicine. She’s born to be a surgeon. She has the tender touch.”
“Huh.” Wasn’t she full of surprises? I didn’t know I was smiling with pride until my cheeks ached.
“She’s in Marco’s room. She’s tired and worried about you. I’m sure she’s happy to see you.”
“Thanks, sis.” I squeezed her shoulder.
“What are you gonna do to Francesco?” Gio asked.
They waited for my answer.
I left them unanswered and walked to Marco’s room. I slowly opened the door and there she was, assisting the old doctor with her eyes lighting up, and. no one had noticed me yet.
“Really? I did it right?” she asked the doctor, surprised.
“You should study medicine, honey,” said the doctor as he pushed his eyeglasses up and stitched Marco.”There’s nothing to be done here.”
“I don’t like seeing blood. It made me dizzy, but I had to help Marco.”
“I see. Hand me the scissors.” Dr. Valerie gestured. Dani helped, and I locked the door behind me.
That was the time they noticed they weren’t alone anymore. Dani’s eyes widened. I didn’t know how she jumped off the bed to run in my direction.
The adrenaline rushed in my veins. I caught her, lifted her up, and hugged her tight. She wrapped her arms around my neck and legs around my waist. I sighed in relief, closed my eyes, buried my nose in her neck, and inhaled her sweet scent.
We stayed there for a moment, reliving our moments that we both made it out alive. I was glad Dani was fine, though I knew she was still terrified.
That moment she was caught in the crossfire flashed back in my memory. I thought I was going to lose her without telling her how much she meant to me and that she was the only reason why I wanted to live, to work, to fix things I broke, to redeem myself, because I wanted to have her in my life. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her as we planned to start building our family in a safer life and a home surrounded by love.
Regrets flooded my senses, and I held her even tighter.
“I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried.” Her voice was quieter and muffled, but enough for me to hear it.
I pulled my head back to look right into her eyes and face. She looked tired but still beautiful, which took my breath away.
She studied me for a while before asking, “Is everyone okay?”
I nodded. I had no words.
She smiled sadly and unhooked her legs from around me and set them on the floor. “Good to know.”
I felt empty all of a sudden. She turned, ready to walk back to Marco and the doctor. I wasn’t conflicted. God, I wanted to make things right with her, but I couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity while she was vulnerable.
At the same time, I couldn’t let her go without making her feel what it meant to almost lose her. I knew it was luck, but I was relieved the luck was on her side at that moment.
I grabbed her wrist, and she didn’t stiffen or pull her hand back. “Dani.”
“Yeah?” She turned and faced me again, eyes widened with anticipation. “Are you gonna say to me, ‘don’t fucking do that again. I know you already knew what I did. Your people talk.”
I shook my head and cupped the back of my head. “No. I just wanna make sure I’m not dreaming right now.” I stopped talking as she blinked and her lips parted. I leaned closer, pressed my lips against hers.
She gasped but kissed me back instantly, grabbed and hung on to my jacket. The kiss was warm and familiar, sweet and sensual. I didn’t care if we were not alone. I just wanted to kiss my wife and feel that I was alive and grateful and that there might be hope for our marriage. I poured everything into the kiss, all fear washed away.
We broke apart, both breathing hard. I pressed a kiss on her forehead and rested mine against hers.
“You scared me. I was watching you on the monitor with bullets flying around you. That was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve never felt so helpless that I couldn’t get you on time.”
“Not the slaughterhouse incident?” She lifted her gaze to me, amused. “Don’t blame yourself for not being able to be there. It was my choice. Your people are being attacked because of me. And I couldn’t let Marco die if I could do something, and he was there because of me. He was shot because he was trying to keep me safe.”
“Just don’t do it again.” I swallowed hard as I thought of the easiest way to break it to her that her father was in the compound.
“She could have been shot if they targeted him,” Marco grunted as he tried to move, making us pull apart, turning to face him.
“Stay in bed, Marco,” Dr. Valerie ordered.
“That made sense,” Dani said and looked at me again. “So, this is Francesco’s doing?”
“Yeah, and he’s in the basement.”