Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

44. Dante

Chapter 44

Dante

“ W ould you like anything else to eat?” Valentina asks from across the table.

Her smile is soft, but I can see the pity shining in her eyes.

It’s been nearly two hours since Allegra and Nico left for the city. And every minute that passes feels like a lifetime. There is no doubt in my mind that this dinner was orchestrated by Valentina and Ocean to help keep my mind off what is taking place. Though I appreciate the sentiment, there is nothing that could make me forget that the woman I am in love with is currently having dinner with another man.

“No thank you, Valentina. I’m good.” My smile is weak as I push my half-eaten plate of stuffed conchiglioni away.

“Nico will not let anything happen to his sister,” Ocean murmurs, also throwing me a pitying look.

My smile and voice are tight when I speak. “I know.”

“Allegra told me you have a visit with the brain specialist tomorrow?” Valentina clears her throat, changing the subject.

Half smiling, I nod. “Doctor Baddour. I did some research and he has been awarded many accolades for his work with patients. I don’t want to get my hopes up, Allegra is doing enough of that for the both of us, but I am interested to hear his prognosis.”

Valentina and Ocean smile solemnly.

Valentina’s lips twist up, her eyes glazing. I know she wants to say something, but it’s a question of if she will. When the silence stretches on for a long moment, I begin to think she decided against saying whatever is on her mind, but then she speaks.

“ Mia figlia , was a shadow of herself when you died.” Valentina cuts herself off, frowning. “Well, when we believed you to be dead,” she amends. “Not only did I lose a man I thought of as a son. I also believed that I was going to lose my daughter. She was so lost. Haunted. She shut everyone out.” Valentina shudders, blinking away the tears in her eyes, a faraway look crossing her face. She is remembering what I have learned was a very traumatic time. “She was a ghost, walking the halls of this house. I never want her to go back to that. So, everything must work out as we all hope it will. Because I don’t think any of us will survive any other outcome. I will not lose my daughter or you, my son, again.” She finishes reverently despite the tears now rolling down her cheeks.

“Nico was...” Ocean starts only to trail off. She exhales, rolling her eyes, a small smile on her lips. “Well, I know he comes across as this cold, tough guy but he was a mess, when he believed you were dead. It was a hard time for all of us.”

My gaze finds Ocean’s, and I see the honesty in her words. My skin itches, a burn crawling beneath my skin at the intensity suffocating the room with their words. I want to lighten it. So I do.

“Though I don’t remember past Nico, I see how he behaves with you and Romeo. The way he looks at you,” I shake my head, the corner of my mouth lifting. “Something tells me he has softened. Either with age or having you around.”

Ocean and Valentina chuckle, but it’s the former that answers. “After I ran, I spent time in Charleston. I didn’t know I was pregnant when I left. I know you don’t recall the night that he found me and Romeo. But I will say that he has come a long way since then.”

My brow raises on its own volition, and I smirk. “I was there?”

Ocean’s eyes bug out almost comically. “Oh, you were there. You actually held Romeo before Nico.”

I chuckle despite the heaviness in my heart, and muse sardonically, “Bet he loved that.”

“After hearing him cry, he ordered you to go get him from his crib. When he brought me home, Nico told me that he knew just from the look on your face, that Romeo was his child.”

I frown in confusion, something not adding up. “You said you ran. Why? Why did Nico have to find you? What did he do?”

Oceans face falls at my question. She sucks in a breath, her ocean blue eyes getting a faraway look. She sighs. “I found out some things Nico had been lying to me about…” she trails off, her breath hitching. “Well, to put it bluntly, he was engaged. It was an arranged marriage his papà entered him into, much like he did with Allegra. I also wasn’t aware that Nico was in the mafia. Well, not until Lorenzo, his father, confronted me.”

Nodding, I absorb all this information. “Then how did you meet Nico?”

Embarrassment coats her cheeks, her voice dropping to a murmur when she answers my question “I was a dancer at his club. The Executive Club. It is where I met Leo, Nico and you. Leo is the manager there. He gave me the job. It’s the place where you ‘died’ after the Bratva attacked to get to me.” Guilt laces her words.

Cocking my head, I state. “You blame yourself.”

She rolls her lips between her teeth, nodding. “Yeah. My father, along with Vadim Mikhailov, ordered the hit. It was because of me you lost your memories and so much time with Allegra,” she chokes out, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Valentina takes her hand, squeezing it gently. “It wasn’t your fault, Ocean. Neither Allegra nor Nico blame you.” She looks at me. “And I’m sure Dante doesn’t hold you responsible for their despicable actions either.”

I mull over everything, taking it all in. Valentina is right. I don’t blame Ocean. Sure, whatever happened involved her, but I think it also goes deeper than what we originally believed it to.

“I don’t. It wasnt your fault.” I tell her honestly.

Ocean smiles but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I can tell, despite my words, she still carries the burden of that day on her shoulders.

At this point, I don’t think it matters what any of us say. She will always carry some kind of responsibility for her father’s actions and the subsequent domino effect.

One day it will lessen, I am sure, but today is not that day.

“I’m going to get cleaned up. Then we could watch a movie?” Valentina asks, changing the subject.

Shaking my head, I chuckle. “Sure”

Before anyone can say anymore, the sound of the front door opening alerts us to someone’s arrival.

My heart beats erratically in my chest and I know without a doubt who has just stepped inside.

My angel is home.