L'Angelo della Morte | A Mafia Romance

♛30 ⥄ ❝ Freedom never tasted sweeter ❞

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Don't blame me — love made me crazy

~ Taylor Swift

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I stirred in my spot in front of the fireplace at the sound of a car door. Mia and I shared a look, and we both disregarded the books in our laps and got up from the couch.

Today was the day. Not only Vittorio but Romeo, too, got discharged from the hospital.

We'd made it to the foyer when soft footsteps sounded from the stairs. Dante. He leaned his weight on the railing, each step slow and careful.

He'd gotten better over the course of the passing days, but the bruising on his face and the healing lacerations on his back were still causing him pain.

"They're back?" His eyes were droopy, evidence that he'd just recently woken up.

I shrugged, a smile making it onto my lips as I turned to the front door and tore it open. My smile grew.

Noah – the man that had come to our aid once he'd driven Romeo to the hospital – was supporting his friend in getting out of the black SUV.

The passenger door flung open and Vittorio stepped out. His left arm was in a sling, but aside from that, he looked like himself: dashingly handsome and dangerous.

Romeo was able to walk, but the hand he kept pressed against his abdomen betrayed his smug expression. His mismatched eyes met mine and he smirked.

"You're not even gonna welcome us home?" He mused.

I shook my head with a soft chuckle and bounded down the steps. With no hesitation, I pulled Romeo into a loose hug.

He went rigid, but the longer I hugged him, the more he relaxed before eventually draping an arm around me. His cologne was familiar. A reminder of the day I'd met him.

Then I stepped back and my gaze fell on Vittorio. Tears stung my eyes and when a smile took over my face, I couldn't suppress the small sob that accompanied it.

"Hey, badass," he smiled sheepishly, "do I get a hug, too?"

I nodded and the dam broke. I let him pull me close and I wrapped my arms around him for dear life, welcoming his soothing scent. I pressed my cheek to his chest and he embraced me with his good arm.

I sniffled – my tears wetting the front of his shirt.

"Why are you crying?" He hummed into my hair.

"Because it's over," I murmured. Over the days, I'd come to realize that Livio's death came with my freedom. I could leave. I had to leave.

His hold of me tightened and he murmured sweet soothings into my ear.

We stood like that for what felt like forever – still it ended too soon.

𓆩♛𓆪

It was with tears in my eyes that I zipped my suitcase, securing a bunch of the clothes I'd been given in my time with the Lombardi famiglia.

I wiped at my eyes and dragged it off the bed, taking in the room that had been mine for one last time. My heart was heavy when I flicked the switch and let the room fall into darkness. The door creaked as I shut it, clicking into place with little resistance.