The Aftermath

**Damiano**

Althaia was shocked.

Shocked to the point her body gave up under her and collapsed to the ground. I grabbed her and pulled her into me, gritting my teeth as I ignored my own pain when I saw the state she was in. I didn’t give two shots about Alexei at this moment, only worrying about her. She looked numb, lost, as she tried to comprehend what I had just said. For once, Alexei kept quiet and had his men stand by as he looked at Althaia.

His daughter.

He hadn’t expressed what he thought of the situation. About him having a daughter. But he was pissed at her mother for keeping away and not telling him he was going to be a father. Twenty-five years had he lived on with his life without knowing he had a daughter. And to make it worse for him, his daughter thought Gaetano was her father.

An Italian man who married his woman

“Come on, breathe, Althaia… There you go… Breathe.” She gasped for air and I felt how her entire body was shaking. I held her tightly, even though I was struggling to stand on my own because of the pain. I knew it wasn’t long before I would lose consciousness again.

“Oh, fuck. Go get her a doctor and go fix yourself. You’re useless to me if you’re fucking dead.” Alexei sighed, even rolling his fucking eyes.

“If you pull some dumb shit, Vasiliev, you know what the consequences will be.” I told him. I didn’t need to clarify what I meant as he knew.

“You are in no position to make any threats to me.”

“Does it look like I care? Fuck up, and the blood is on your hands.” It was my final words to him before we rushed to the hospital.

I was slipping in and out of consciousness in the car. My heart was beating faster than I have ever experienced, and I could feel the blood that kept dripping down. Althaia was next to me, trying to keep me awake by talking to me and tapping my cheek. But half of the ride to the hospital, I couldn’t hear what she was saying as if she was far away. That was how faint her voice sounded to me.

“…Surgery immediately!” I opened my eyes, seeing everything blurring past me.

“No surgery…” I told them, trying to stop but my body was too heavy to move and my eyes closed again of fatigue. I just needed to be stitched up and rest for a bit, and I would be fine.

“Don’t listen to him and help him, please.” Althaia’s voice sounded out, having me frown when I heard her cry.

*Don’t cry, my love. Your tears are precious.*

I felt her lips on mine. So soft, light, and feathery, having my heart somehow beat even faster, and spreading warmth inside of me.

Like fire, and keeping me alive.

“I love you.” She whispered, but I heard it loud and clearly.

*And I love you.*

Then darkness took completely over.

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I was resting in the recovery room with IV bags attached to me, relieving my pain while I listened to Antonio as he reported everything back to me. The surgery was quick but they had to work fast on me since I had pushed my body beyond its limit.

It almost cost me my life.

“…Everything is clear and people are getting treated.” I nodded. We had faced a bigger army than expected and many of my men were injured. We had casualties as well, but it was minimal compared to how many Gaetano lost.

“We have him and his brother locked up, separately, and got the place heavily secured.”

“And Vasiliev?”

“He’s still around but keeping his distance.”

“Of course he is.” I shook my head.

“I want eyes on him at all times.” I turned my attention to the door when it opened.

“You good?” Lorenzo asked as he stepped inside.

“Still breathing.” He cracked a smile.

“How’s Cara?”

“She’ll make it.” Lorenzo rubbed his jaw, frowning. I knew that feeling too well. The feeling of helplessness as there was nothing he could do but wait, and pray for the best.

“Althaia is with her now.” I sighed. She had been with me until I woke up, making sure I would be okay. She became restless, pacing back and forth before she decided to check on everyone else.

“How is she handling the news?” Antonio asked.

“I’m not sure. She hasn’t mentioned it yet.”

“Denial.” Lorenzo commented, and I nodded, agreeing with him that she was in denial. We all turned to look at the door when it opened.

“Oh... Am I disturbing you?” Althaia asked as she looked at us.

“No. Come here.” I held my hand out to her when she stepped inside.

“We’ll leave you be.” Antonio and Lorenzo gave a small nod to Althaia in respect when they passed her. She placed her hand in mine and sat on the chair next to the bed. Her eyes flickered around, looking conflicted before she finally looked at me.

“How do you feel? Are you in a lot of pain?” She looked at my bandaged torso.

“I’m fine.” I reassured her, and her shoulders sagged in relief. We sat in silence and I watched her play with my fingers while avoiding looking at me.

“Althaia -”

“Cara is going to make it.” She suddenly said, still not looking at me.

“Michael too. Gio and Luca are getting fixed up as well, and Arianna was awake. But she’s sleeping now, so…” She continued to update me on everyone’s well-being. I already knew what the status was but I let her continue, wanting her to talk instead of being silent, and drowning in her own thoughts.

“And you? What’s the status on you?” A small smile appeared on her lips at my question.

“Well, I did get shot so I had to get my arm stitched. And my nose is not broken, so I will say I got pretty lucky.” Althaia let out a small breath before finally looking at me. Her arm was bandaged and her face was bruised from taking a hit.

I looked at her for a while and she started to squirm around in her seat. It was obvious she was battling something inside her head.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Everything.” She forced out a chuckle before biting down on her lip.

“Tell me.” I spoke to her softly, and her eyes started to glisten.

“Why would you say something like that to me?” I held her hand tightly in mine. It sent a jolt in my heart at the sight of her innocent green eyes filled with tears. She looked vulnerable, conflicted, and broken. It all showed in her eyes like a raging storm.

“That night… I saw her with my own eyes, so why would you say that to me?” I cupped her face with my hand, wiping her tears away with my thumb.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that to you. I should have shown you instead.”

“Damiano, please, stop… It’s messing with my head.” She whispered. I never hated myself as much as I did right this moment with the way she was looking at me. So was looking so fragile. I wanted to cradle her in my arms, comfort and protect her. To tell her everything would be okay.

But would it?

I had no idea what would happen after this.

“What are you doing? No, no, you can’t do that!” I ignored her as I pulled out the needles attached to me.

“Can you get me a shirt from the bag?” I asked her while I moved to get up from the hospital bed.

“No! You can’t just do as you please when you just had surgery. Stop moving!” Althaia tried to stop me but didn’t know how as she was afraid of hurting me. She placed her hands on my chest and I grabbed her wrists, pulling her close to me.

“I-I almost lost you, please stop…”

“Look at me.” I had to talk to her firmly before she would listen.

“I’m fine. I’m alive, and I’m not leaving you anytime soon.”

“Do you promise?” I gave her a soft smile.

*Shit, she was too cute for her own good.*

“I promise.”

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Althaia looked around anxiously, barely able to sit still in the car. She thought I had gotten hit on the head too many times, and suffered partial memory loss. I didn’t try to convince her otherwise and just let her see with her own two eyes.

We stepped out of the car and arrived at the safe house. She looked around and her hand tightened around mine when she noticed how much security there was. She gulped as her breathing changed but managed to take a deep breath.

I took a quick glance at the car that followed us. Vasiliev followed because he loved to be a pain in my ass, and wouldn’t let me get anything done in peace. I gave him a warning glare, reminding him to wait outside until Althaia got the time she needed.

“Shoot him if he tries anything.” I told Antonio and Giovanni, having them keep an eye on him.

“Don’t need to tell me twice.” Giovanni kept his gaze on Vasiliev with his gun ready. Vasiliev was leaning against the car with his arms crossed as if he had no care in the world. Althaia was too lost in her thoughts to realize what was going on.

I lead her inside the house, noticing the slight tremble in her body as she walked. I looked at her when we stopped right in front of the double doors. I wanted to say something to her. To somehow prepare her. But how could I prepare her when she was about to see her dead mother alive?

Instead, I kissed her head in a lousy attempt to comfort her.

I opened the doors, my eyes landing on Jacinta sitting on the couch with her usual mug in her hands. She got on her feet when she saw it was me.

“I have a visitor for you.” Jacinta’s eyes slightly narrowed in confusion. I stepped aside and she let out a gasp when she saw Althaia.

Althaia didn’t say anything, her eyes wide as she looked at her mother. She was frozen in place as she looked at her mother.

“… Mamá?” She whispered with tears.

“Althaia, my baby.” Jacinta cried out, coming closer. She stopped when Althaia took a step away. I frowned, noticing how her chest rose and fell too fast.

She was having a panic attack.

“Althaia.” I reached out for her but she flinched away from my touch.

“Don’t touch me!” She stumbled back, hitting the door before she turned around and ran.

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