揑 hope he wakes soon.?
I hadn抰 told her the news about him waking up yet, had thought it more prudent to talk to her before her mind was occupied with Santino. 揌e did wake. Enzo sent me a message a few minutes ago.?
Anna抯 eyes grew huge in disbelief then pure happiness reflected on her face. For a father to see this kind of emotion on their child抯 face because of a man they should punish harshly was a nightmare. It wouldn抰 be the first time the women in my life made me blur the lines of what should be done for the sake of the Outfit. Yet, I still wasn抰 convinced Santino was someone I wanted around Anna.
揅an I see him? Please, Dad, I need to see him and tell him that I didn抰 marry Clifford. He probably thinks I抦 already married.?
揂ll right.?
Anna hollered in joy, throwing her arms around me. Despite my intention to hold on to my anger, her happiness filled me with relief. I patted her back, then pulled back and said sternly. 揧ou can visit, but I抣l need to talk to him. And after that, we all need to figure out a solution with the Clarks.?
Anna bit her lip. 揟hey抣l want to ruin us, I suppose.?
揗aximo Clark most definitely, but I can handle him. It won抰 be pleasant, though. Maybe Santino can be of help. That way he can prove to me that he抯 willing to atone for his betrayal.?
揝he doesn抰 deserve you. You deserve someone who chooses you!?Dad shouted.
The door swung open and Anna stumbled in, dressed in a wedding dress. Some of her mascara was smudged and her cheeks were flushed.
She froze when she spotted me. I sank down on the bed, my legs suddenly too weak to carry me. Fuck. I抎 never been a fucking weakling.
She didn抰 move from her spot in the doorway. 揧ou抮e really awake.?
I forced a smile. 揧eah. I missed your wedding.?
She stepped in. 揑 didn抰。 I couldn抰。？
I frowned, hope blooming in me. 揧ou couldn抰 what??
揑 couldn抰 say yes. I knew it would have been better for the Outfit and that I was being selfish, but I couldn抰 say yes to Clifford. I抦 not married.?
揧ou left Clifford at the altar on your wedding day and dashed off in your dress like a runaway bride??I smirked, but my insides were exploding with emotions. Fuck. Anna had chosen me.
Anna rolled her eyes and huffed. She still hadn抰 moved from her spot in the doorway.
揥hy couldn抰 you marry him??
Anna gave me a pleading look. 揧ou know why.?
I had absolutely no intention of making this easy on her. Not after what she抎 put me through. 揈nlighten me.?
揃ecause of you, Sonny. Because I love you even if you annoy me more than any other person ever does.?
I chuckled and opened my arms. Anna rushed over to me and half fell into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my middle, hugging me tightly. It took me a moment to realize what Anna had said. She抎 admitted her love to me. I pulled away a few inches, scanning her face.
Dad cleared his throat. Both he and Frederica watched us in embarrassment. 揥e抣l give you some time to talk.?
Dad stepped back, exchanging a look with Frederica before the two of them left the room and closed the door.
I ran my hand over Anna抯 hair. She must have had it in an updo for the wedding but most of the pins had fallen out by now. 揑抦 sorry it took me so long to cancel the wedding. I should have done it much sooner.?
揧ou should have. Of course you picked the worst possible moment. I抦 sure your father is already planning my beheading.?
Not that I cared. Knowing that Anna could finally be mine was worth an early grave.
She lifted her head, her eyes soft and actually glassy. 揑 thought I抎 lose you. I was terrified. The idea that you might not be there anymore?I couldn抰 bear it.?
揑抦 alive, and I have no intention of dying anytime soon.?
揈ver,?she said firmly.
揑 definitely intend to die before you, because I sure as fuck don抰 want to live without you.?
Anna shook her head with a small smile. 揟his is macabre.?
I cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss, wanting to taste her without the fear of getting caught, without the knowledge that our togetherness was doomed to be temporary. There was no expiration date for our love anymore. No wedding that hung over our heads like a Damocles sword.
I wasn抰 sure how much time had passed, not nearly enough when a knock rang out.
揑 fear this might be my mother,?Anna said with an apologetic smile.
Valentina came in as if on cue. She was still dressed in a dark green evening gown, with an elegant updo and high heels. She was dressed to celebrate her daughter抯 wedding, but instead, she visited me in the hospital for what I knew would be a very unpleasant conversation.
Valentina抯 face made her displeasure very clear. I couldn抰 believe that she抎 stopped the wedding alongside Anna. One thing was sure, she hadn抰 done it because she wanted Anna and me together.