Chapter 237 Galdino's Regret
Galdino's P.O.V.
"I truly thought it was best not to say anything to anyone, but you're right. I should have thought about the effect it would have had on all of you, thinking I was dead." I sit on the side of the bed and suddenly feel my age. Valentina kneels in front of me and takes my hands.
"You need to get used to the fact that you're not alone. You have Ari, Dakota, Enzo, and me, and we all love you. Now we have a baby on the way, too. It's time for you to start trusting others enough to be involved in what you do." I pull her up so she's standing in front of me and wrap my arms around her.
"I have always done everything myself and tried not to involve anyone else because I didn't want them to be used to get to me. The fewer people who know what's happening, the safer they are. At least, that's what I have told myself. I will do my best to change. I don't want to keep you in the dark." Valentina puts her hands in my hair and pulls slightly so I'll look up at her.
"Good, because we all need you around for a long time. What's the plan to deal with those brothers?" she asks.
"Warren is going to meet with them to collect the rest of his money and see what they want him to do next. They will most likely want him to go after Ari or Dakota. We don't have much time to play around with them because once my body isn't found somewhere, they're going to get suspicious. We need to find out if they're working with anyone or if they're working alone." I rest my head against her abdomen, where our baby is growing inside of her.
"How will you find out if they're working with someone?" I rub my hands over her back as she gently strokes my head.
"Warren is going to get what he can from them, and I'm going to ask Noah if he can look into whether they've been contacted by any other families. I have a man who could do it, but I'm concerned about who I can trust. I know some in my family aren't happy with the connection to the Kondrati family. They assumed, after my dad died, that I would be out for their blood. I wanted their entire family dead at one time because we were at war with them, or that's how I felt, anyway. My dad put a stop to that when he discovered Anushka was the daughter of the woman he loved in college. When he met Dakota, that was it; he and Christov agreed to call a truce between our families. I, of course, was furious, but after he died, I had a change of heart. I realized that I had lived my whole life full of hate, and what kind of life was that? When I met Dakota for the first time, I expected her to be naïve and immature. She was neither. She may only be twenty-two, but I knew she was born for this life right away. Not many people are, and I think that scares me more than anything. The life we live can chew you up and spit you out. If it doesn't, it can make you hard and untrusting, and that's a lonely life." Maybe Dakota will be the exception to the rule because she's unlike anyone else I know.
"Dakota may be hard and untrusting, but she's passionate above everything else. Look at the people in this house. She surrounds herself with those who will be loyal to her, and she gives her all to keep them safe. Now, back to our business. Did you mean what you said when you asked me to marry you?" I slide my hands under her shirt to feel her soft skin.
"I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't mean it. I love you, Valentina." I spread her legs so she straddles my lap, and I have her sit down. "I'll get you a ring the first chance I get."
"I don't care about a ring or any other material things. I just want you. I love you." She kisses me, and I get hard almost immediately. I pull her shirt off, and she removes mine. Valentina isn't wearing a bra, so her large, firm breasts push against my bare chest. She stands to pull her jeans and panties off, and I quickly remove the rest of my clothes. She gets back on my lap and slides onto me as she kisses me. I put my hands on her waist as she begins to ride me. I will never get tired of being inside of her.
An hour later, Valentina is passed out on top of me, but I can't sleep as I stare out of the window. Why are so many families coming after us? Some of it may be that they aren't happy about a union between the Kondratis and Buccheris, but it seems like something more. I look at Valentina and think of our unborn child and Enzo. I know if anything happens to me, Dakota and Ari will take care of them. When this war, or whatever it is, comes to a head, I will sacrifice myself to save my family if necessary.