Chapter 133 IN MY HAND.
\~~~LUCIANO MORETTI.
Evening settled over the house like a soft blanket, the kind that quiets the chaos of the day.
I stood in the doorway of our bedroom, already dressed in a simple black shirt and pants. My shoulder still ached from the wound, but the pain was a dull throb now and was easy to ignore. Raina was fresh from the shower, wrapped in a loose robe, and her hair damp and curling at the ends. She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing lotion into her arms, completely relaxed, and unaware of the storm of thoughts in my head. She looked peaceful, her face soft in the lamplight, and it hit me hard how fragile that peace was.
I watched her for a long moment, leaning against the frame. How close I'd come to losing her—the divorce papers, the fights, and the secrets that had nearly torn us apart.
And the silence? That damn silence between us had almost cost me everything. I had hidden too much, pushed her away, thinking it would protect her, but it only built walls.
If I didn't claim her now, make this right on my terms, I never deserved her again. She was my anchor in this bloody life, and tonight, I would show her that.
She glanced up, catching my stare, and smiled that small, knowing smile. “What?” she asked, tilting her head.
I pushed off the doorframe and crossed the room, pulling the box I had kept in the corner of the room while she was in the bathroom.
“Open it.”
Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she took it, fingers brushing mine. She unwrapped it carefully, lifting the lid to reveal the dress inside. It was elegant, a deep midnight blue that would hug her curves just right before flowing out in soft layers, like silk caught in a breeze.
“What is this for?” she asked, holding it up, the fabric shimmering.
“Put it on,” I said, my voice steady. “I am taking you somewhere.”
She raised an eyebrow, standing to shake out the dress. “Where? Luciano, come on, tell me.”
I shook my head, a slight smile tugging at my lips.
I didn’t answer her, not yet. I wanted this to unfold slowly, and let the surprise build. For once, I wanted to surprise her and make her feel chosen without the shadow of fear hanging over us.
She had been through enough of my storms.
She huffed a laugh but disappeared into the closet to change. When she emerged, the dress fit like it was made for her, elegant lines accenting her waist, the skirt swaying as she walked. She spun once, the fabric flaring, and looked at me with that mix of suspicion and excitement.
“Okay, mystery man. You’re going to poke a hole in me.”
\~~~
I drove, the drive was quiet, but not uncomfortable.
Her hand rested in mine, warm, real and every few minutes, I squeezed it, as if reassuring myself she was still here.
She straightened as she noticed the route, “Where are we going?”
Her voice held that spark of curiosity, growing sharper. The private airstrip was just ahead, hidden off the main highway. I kept one hand on the steering wheel, the other reaching over to squeeze hers warm, quick, and reassuring. She laced her fingers with mine, squeezing back.
The gates loomed, and I punched in the code without slowing. We rolled up to the hangar, where the helicopter waited, rotors still, and bathed in floodlights. The crew, a couple of ground hands stepped back as we parked, giving us space. I cut the engine and came around to open her door, offering my hand.
Raina stepped out, her eyes widening at the sight. The chopper gleamed under the lights, sleek and ready. She turned to me, stunned, a smile breaking across her face, bright, and excited, making her glow.
“A helicopter? What is this?”
I met her gaze, steady.
“You said you wanted to feel free again,” I nodded toward the machine. “Tonight, I will give you the sky.”
Her mouth parted in shock, but then she laughed, a real, joyful sound that cut through the night.
And when I moved to the pilot's side, strapping in without a word, her eyes went wide again. “Wait, you are flying this?”
“Yeah,” I said, flipping switches, the controls familiar under my hands.
I had logged hours in the air over the years, a skill I'd kept quiet.
Her reaction hit me and the shock melted into laughter, then something like pride in her eyes. She looked at me like I was still worth believing in, and that truly warmed my heart.
She climbed in beside me, buckling up, her excitement buzzing. The rotors whirred to life, the vibration humming through us as we lifted off. The ground fell away, the private strip shrinking to a dot, and soon the city sprawled below, a sea of twinkling lights fading into the dark countryside.
Raina pressed closer to the window, her breath fogging the glass, amazed at the view.
“This is so beautiful,” she whispered, her face lit by the glow from below.
But I barely glanced out. I watched her, the way her eyes sparkled, and the way her lips curved in wonder. This woman made even the world look sane, turning the endless grind of my life into something worth holding onto.
She was the only thing that ever made me feel human, stripped of the boss, the fighter, and the survivor.
We flew on, the air smooth, and the hum steady. Raina leaned back after a while, her hand finding mine on the console.
“Where are we going?” she asked softly, but there was no demand, just that quiet thrill.
“You will see,” I murmured, eyes on the horizon.
Further out, she spotted it first, something below catching the moonlight. “Luciano, look! Something is down there. What is that?”
I followed her gaze, the clearing I'd arranged, now glowing like a hidden jewel.
Flowers outlined paths, and soft lanterns strung between trees. She gasped, pressing forward again.
“Is that... for us?”
“Look ahead,” I said, my voice low and soft. I eased the controls, descending slowly and controlled, the chopper settling onto the flat grass with a gentle thud. The rotors slowed to a whine, then silence.
We stepped out into the cool night air, the scent of fresh blooms hitting us. Roses, lilies, and wildflowers I'd had scattered everywhere. Soft lights twinkled from strings overhead, and candles flickered in glass holders along a path that led to a small pavilion.
Elegant decor, white linens on a table set for two, and chairs pulled close. But the real heart was ahead, a large sign, illuminated and simple,
“Be my wife again, Raina.”
She froze mid-step, her hand in mine going still. Then her eyes filled, tears spilling over as she read it again. “Luciano…” Her voice broke, and she turned to me, crying now, the dress fluttering in the breeze. “Why…?”
Because I should have never let you go, I thought, the words burning inside. But I didn't say them yet. Instead, I turned her gently toward me, my hands on her shoulders. From my pocket, I pulled the ring box. Not the one she had returned, but a new one which promised a better future for us. I opened it, the diamond catching the candlelight, simple and eternal.
I dropped to one knee then, the grass damp under me, ignoring the twinge in my shoulder. Silence stretched, heavy and full, as I looked up at her.
There was no anger in my chest, no pride, just truth, raw and waiting.
“Raina,” I started, my voice steady but low, owning every word. I didn't drown her in apologies. That wasn't us.
I had failed her, and I knew it.
“I didn't know how to love gently. I thought possession was protection, holding you close, and keeping the world out. But I was wrong. It pushed you away, and made you doubt.”
She wiped at her tears, listening, her eyes locked on mine.
“You changed me,” I went on. “You showed me what real strength is, not in fists or orders, but in letting go of control. Losing you... It scared me more than death, and more than any bullet or betrayal. I have faced wars, Raina, but the thought of a life without you? That's the real end.”
I held her gaze, the words flowing true.
“You are my calm in a world built on violence. You are the only reason my life makes sense. I don't promise softness, life with me won't be easy, but I promise truth, every day, and no more shadows. I don't promise safety from the world as it is too damn cruel for that. But I promise safety with me. I will stand between you and the storm, always.”
The night wrapped around us, the flowers whispering in the wind. I lifted the ring higher.
“Be my wife again. Not because you must, but because I am nothing without you.”
She stood there, tears streaming, her hand trembling as she reached out. I waited, my heart racing in my chest, a vulnerability I never admitted, not even to myself.
This was the only thing I'd ever asked for without a weapon in my hand, without demands or threats. Just me, bare, hoping.