Chapter 120: Closure

**Damiano**

I got out of the car once we made it back, walking fast through the house until I heard muffled voices coming from the den. The door was already slightly open before I pushed it, seeing Althaia sitting on the couch with a doctor attending to her hand. Her gaze was on the floor, her usually bright green eyes seemed dull as her expression was blank.

I stepped inside, her head snapped in my direction and I watched her intake a sharp breath before she stood up, ignoring the doctor as she quickly walked up to me. I immediately wrapped my arms around her, holding her close to my chest and I felt the tension slowly melt away. I leaned slightly back and put my hands on her cheek as I looked around at her face to see if she was hurt.

“Damiano, I’m sorry… I didn’t -”

“Shh..” I shook my head at her as I watched her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Don’t apologize for anything.” I said to her softly.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” I gently took hold of her hand, examining it as I saw she had a few pieces of glass stuck and the palm of her hand had several cuts. I had to take a deep breath not to lose my shit in front of her, knowing she was in a vulnerable state.

“No, I just cut my hand but Gio got hurt. He was bleeding!” She ignored her own injuries as she looked at me, concerned about Giovanni’s well-being.

“It was just a flesh wound. No need to cry about it.” Giovanni’s voice sounded from the door. He walked up to us, showing he was okay with his bandaged arm.

“You’re lucky it hit me or else you would have gotten a pretty nasty scar. And your husband would have detached my head from my body.” He crossed his arms as he looked at her amused.

“But you got hurt because of me!” Althaia’s voice was laced with guilt as she looked at his arm. He slightly frowned as he leaned forward to talk to her.

“It’s my job to keep you safe. As if I would let them hurt you.” He tsked at her but let out a small smile. She looked a bit hesitant and looked back at his arm but gave a small smile anyway.

“Is that you admitting you care about me?”

“Woman, didn’t I just prove I would take a bullet for you? Do you really need me to spell it out to you?”

“Yes.” She said immediately and he let out a sigh.

“Fine. Yes, I do care about you. I don’t know why but there’s just something about you that makes me care for you. Happy?” He scowled at her. She took him by surprised when she suddenly embraced him.

“Very happy. I know it’s your job to protect me but it lets me know you don’t hate me if something were to happen.” He looked taken aback by her words and shook his head as he lightly patted the top of her head.

“I don’t hate you… I’m just Uncle Grumpy.” Althaia chuckled and looked relieved when she stepped back from him. I immediately held her in my arms, not done with feeling reassured that she was fine. Giovanni turned to look at me.

“Your father wants to talk to you.”

“He can wait. Leave us.” I led Althaia back to the couch as the others got out of the den and took a seat where the doctor previously sat. I took a hold of her hand, adjusted the small light and grabbed the tweezer to remove the rest of glass.

“Tell me what happened, baby.”

“Miciela… She asked how my pregnancy was going.” I stopped what I was doing and looked at her, my brows furrowed.

“She mocked me for my miscarriage and I just lost it. I got so angry and the next thing I know is I’m following her, stuffing broken glass into her mouth.” I could see the anger flaring in her eyes as she relieved the moment.

“But I really didn’t mean to cause problems. I’m -“

“Don’t you dare to apologize.” I held her chin, tilting it as I looked at her with a firm look. “She had it coming for opening her mouth, and you did the right thing to shut her up.”

“It’s not that I’m regretting it, just feeling guilty about putting the others in danger.” She muttered out and I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“You’re not putting anyone in danger. Don’t underestimate my men, they’re all trained exactly for such situations.”

“I guess.” She gave me a small smile.

“I’m proud of you, my love.” I said to her softly. Her brows slightly rose as she looked at me. Her cheeks started to get a rosy color as she looked at me so innocently with her big green eyes, making it hard to believe that it was my innocent woman who had fucked someone up so badly.

“Tell me how you did it.” I winked at her, seeing her eyes almost sparkling and ready to tell me everything as I resumed cleaning her hand. I listened to every word she had to say, trying to contain my own anger as I heard what Miciela had said to her.

“…You broke the champagne glass, stuffed it in her mouth, and smashed her head on the table.” I looked at her once I had finished bandaging her hand.

“I did. Oh, and I also stabbed her hand with the knife.” She said proudly and I smirked at her.

“My little psychopath.” I chuckled. She leaned forward, a small smirk on her lips.

“I learned from the best.” My eyes went down to her lips and I closed the distance between us, kissing her softly. Only she had the ability to get rid of all the tension in my body as I kissed her soft lips.

“I just don’t get how she knew I was pregnant.” She said, almost in a whisper.

“We’ll figure it out.” I assured her. It shouldn’t have been possible for Miciela to know that kind of information. Althaia’s medical journal was limited to who could have access to it. I needed to get Rafaelle on it to see what was going on.

“Nonna knows about it too… I had to tell her what happened. She didn’t say anything but she didn’t look pleased about it.” She sighed and rested her head on my shoulder as I caressed her back.

“She’ll get over it. I don’t want you to worry about peoples opinions. What we decide to do is none of their business, but ours only.” Althaia looked at me, about to say something when her gaze went to the doorway. I looked over my shoulder, seeing my father was standing there, waiting.

“Go to your room. I will be right back.” I said to her quietly, giving a nod in response. I kissed her forehead before I got up.

I followed my father into his office, seeing the presence of my Nonna and mother as well as Antonio, Luca, Giovanni and Rafaelle and two of my fathers men. I took a seat on the couch, already knowing what he wanted to say. I looked at the green emerald on my finger as I touched the ring. It reminded me so much of her eyes, making me love it even more and have me wearing it with pride.

“Do you have any idea what kind of mess you’ve made?!” My father said in pure frustration.

“I didn’t make a mess. In fact, I got rid of the trash.” I looked at him, my words not easing his anger.

“We had a treaty. They were our important ally in Italy and that woman ruined everything! You are to get rid of her immediately!” I stood up abruptly and walked up to him as close as I could while staring him down.

“What are you saying, father?" My voice was deadly low, daring him to repeat himself. He didn’t back down as he frowned at me.

“She’s nothing but trouble and ruining your business. Isn’t she the one who attacked Miciela? Isn’t she the reason you still haven’t killed Gataeno as you should have months ago? She is no good for you.” I let out a humorless laugh and gave a devilish smirk.

“My wife should have killed her for mocking her for having a miscarriage. But she’s not a killer. Luckily, she has a husband who will gladly kill in her name. Only a fool would dare to anger her.”

“You married her?” He asked in disbelief.

“Damn right I did.” I turned around and slowly made my way over to my men when my father didn’t have anything to say. Because he knew what it meant. Now that Althaia was my wife, she outranked everyone except me, giving her permission to do whatever she pleased to do with no questions asked.

Something caught my eyes, having me look at the bottom of the closed office door, only to see a shadow had appeared from behind it. The corner of my mouth tilted upwards in the slightest.

“It’s a mistake.” My father said, making me turn around to face him.

“If anyone has a problem with my wife…” My men drew out their guns but didn’t aim at anyone. “Can find themselves six feet under.” I continued, looking at my father and his two men, daring him to challenge me. They shared a look with my father and he shook his head at them.

“Good call.”

“Enough you two.” Nonna interrupted with a stern tone as she stood up, sending us both glares. “No one is to touch the girl. You have to honor the laws. Besides, she just proved she is more than capable of being the wife of a Don. She is exactly the type of woman Damiano needs by his side.” Nonna said, leaving no room for discussion.

“I agree.” My mother commented. “If anything, she showed she truly is a Bellavia.” She looked at me with a wink.

“Tomorrow, a ceremony will be held, announcing Althaia is now officially my wife. I won’t tolerate any disrespect towards her.” I said as a final order and walked out of the office.

“Damiano.” My mother’s voice had me stop and face her. She walked up to me and slightly squinted her eyes when she stopped in front of me.

“When were you going to tell me you got married?”

“When we have settled on a day for the wedding.” I smiled at her when her eyes lit up.

“Oh, so you are having a wedding? Excellent! I thought I had to kill my own son.” She chuckled.

“I thought you might if I didn’t have one.”

“You are my firstborn, of course, I want a wedding to celebrate my son has found the love of his life.” She smiled warmly.

“Thank you, madre.” I kissed the top of her head, grateful she wasn’t displeased about me getting married without her knowing.

“Now, go to her.” She didn’t have to tell me twice as I immediately made my way to her room.

I opened the door, seeing Althaia had changed her clothes and was sitting on the bed with her sketchbook.

“How’s my curious little psychopath?” I teased and sat on the bed in front of her. Her cheeks started to flush as she gave an innocent smile.

“I don’t know what you mean. I have been here all the time.”

“Sure you have.” I grabbed her waist and had her straddle me as I continued to give her a teasing look. “Have I not told you, you would be one terrible spy?”

“You really are The Devil! How did you know?”

“Your shadow.”

“…Oh.” She scrunched up her nose, her cheeks reddening even more in embarrassment, making her look extremely adorable. My chest filled with warmth the more I looked at her, holding her tighter into me as I buried my face into her neck, inhaling her scent. She wrapped her arms around me, playing with the back of my hair as we sat in silence, just holding each other.

“Did I get you in trouble?” She asked worried, having me smile against her neck

“My love, your man is the boss around here. We can do whatever the fuck we want.” I said, plastering small kisses around her neck, feeling her body shiver as I did so. She gave a sigh of bliss as I continued to kiss her skin.

“My sexy Mafia Boss.” She let out a small moan when I sucked on her skin. Her moans have become my favorite sounds, feeding my pride as *I* was the one giving her pleasure. My lips trailed along her jaw until I caught her lips with mine. My hands trailed down and grabbed her hands in both hands, squeezing as I made her grind on me and feel my hard length, ready to be buried deep inside of her.

“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat along with the sound of a knock on the door. Althaia gasped, pushed me away and she quickly stood up. I inwardly groaned as looked to the door to see who the fuck dared to cockblock me.

It was my Nonna.

Althaia’s face got as red as it could be and looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

“You should consider closing the door before starting anything.” She raised a brow at me and I gave her a small shrug.

“I didn’t know you were the type who peeked.”

“Damiano!” Althaia gasped in complete mortification and looked like she was about to faint. I couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation. Getting fucking caught by my Nonna at the age of 30.

“I will pretend I didn’t hear that for your own sake.” She sent me a glare and in return, I gave her a smug grin.

I stood up next to Althaia when she stepped inside. She didn’t say anything as she looked back and forth between us before letting out a sigh.

“I am not here to lecture you but instead to acknowledge your pain. It is a unique pain, to prepare your heart for a child that never comes.” I stood still, not expecting to hear that from her. The emotions I had suppressed about it, started to surface. I glanced at Althaia, her eyes glistening as she gulped, having me pull her into me.

“Lord knows I have had my experience on that. It’s not something I wish for anyone to go through. My dearest, both of you, know that your child is with our Lord in heaven, waiting to be reunited with you.” I let out a breath, something inside of me was feeling strange. I wasn’t a big believer but her words made me feel relieved in some way. A form of closure.

Althaia sniffed, wiping away the tears that had made their way down but she was smiling.

“Thank you.” Her voice was filled with relief. Nonna gave her a warm smile and lightly caressed her cheek as she looked at me.

“You both will do great when the time comes.” She patted my shoulder before turning to leave. For the first time, I had no idea what to say. But one thing was for sure, I was feeling deep gratitude for what she said to us.

Althaia leaned into me, burying her face in my chest as I comforted her.

“Oh, and also, just stay in the same room for God’s sake. I am tired of you sneaking around to be with each other.” I shared a look with Althaia, whose eyes had gone wide before we both looked at Nonna.

“You knew?” She scoffed and raised a brow at me.

“Of course, I knew! Am I not the one who taught you to keep eyes and ears everywhere, hmm?” She said in an amusing tone before leaving the room. We both stared at her retreating form before Althaia let out a laugh.

“Oh, my God.” She looked at me in surprise, having me laugh along with her.

My Nonna was truly one of a kind.