In The Shadows ✔

[96] Family Ties

The stroller is positioned next to the bed and Scorpia lays Leo down in it, tucking him in lovingly. Logan puts the stuffed lion next to the already sleeping little man. Dino looks into the stroller with a sweet expression on his face before pointing at the hallway. Scorpia turns the baby monitor on, apparently, Logan got that from the car too, and steps out of the room. Logan follows her and closes the door behind her.

Dino pulls her into his arms and hugs her a little too tight. But she doesn't complain, she can clearly tell he's very emotional. Logan notices as well and leaves them alone. Scorpia rubs Dino's back and feels his tears in her neck. His shoulders shake and he's having trouble breathing.

Scorpia rubs his back, "My dear Dino, please breathe. I want to be able to hug you more often and I think Violetta feels the same."

He raises his head and looks at her. The emotions rush through his dark eyes and the tears keep streaming down his cheeks. Scorpia cups his face and wipes his tears away with her thumbs.

Dino leans his forehead against hers and takes a shaky breath, "Sorellina... I..."

He starts to sob again and she says: "You don't have to say anything Dino. I feel it. Ti amo fratello."

He cries between his words, "After everything... Ti amo..." He angrily wipes the tears from his cheeks, "I'm crying like a baby while you had to live through it all."

"Dino... I think it's easier to go through it because that gives you at least some form of control. But I don't even want to think about the same thing happening to someone I love... That feeling of powerlessness... Not being able to help or reach them and not being able to truly understand."

Dino holds her face in his hands and looks deep into her eyes. "I saw and felt it for the first time tonight, how it must have been for you. What it did to you. How scared you still were during the interview. Ten years of your life down the drain because your brothers wanted to be cool."

She shakes her head, "You are not responsible for Salvatore's sick mind. Yes, you might have been naive or stupid but you are not to blame for the rape. I won't let you think that, I never blamed you for it. Not even when I was really angry."

Dino bites his lip, despair readable in his eyes.

"Dino, what hurt me most was your behavior after it happened. When you and Ciro forbade me to talk about it. I thought you knew that he did... and you abandoned me... were sweet to mamma... I felt so lost... alone... If Bruno hadn't been there..."

She hears Ciro's voice from behind, it's cracked and laced with emotion. "I swear on everything I love that we didn't know. Stupid and naive for sure but we believed him when he said he only kissed you."

Dino hugs her from the front and Ciro does the same from behind. All three of them cry quietly until Scorpia starts giggling.

The brothers exchange a surprised look and Scorpia whispers: "Fratelli panino."

The guys chuckle and Ciro says: "The filling of this sandwich is the yummiest though. Soft and strong at the same time and full of love."

Dino grins, "Si, and thanks to our sweet sister we both have our partners here in mamma's house. This woman is responsible for our happiness. We're damn lucky brother."

Ciro nods and presses a kiss on Scorpia's cheek. "We sure are Dino. Come on, let's go downstairs and drink to this beautiful woman."

Ciro walks downstairs and Dino picks Scorpia up and carries her downstairs. Logan is seated on the lazy chair in the corner and Dino walks straight up to him. He sits Scorpia down on Logan's lap, "All yours bro. Because you loved her unconditionally from the very start. There's no better man for my sister."