A Love Restored

Den looked me up and down for a second. I felt very conscious under his gaze. 1 shifted in my seat uncomfortably. He finally said, “What is it?”

I gulped again, my throat feeling very, very dry. But then I straightened up. I needed to show confidence, even if I was feigning it. And God, was i friening it.

“As you know,” I began, “Since Nico and my wedding got canceled, and everything that happened with Julian,” I looked up at Don, his eyes were filled with a wave of quiet anger, “People have been talking.”

“I can’t just crase slut shaming from a culture, Ginevra. He said.

My eyes widened. Slut shaming?

Oh.

Me. People were slut shaming me

That made my eyes well up a bit. When I spoke again, my voice was breaking. I concentrated very hand on getting it back to normal. “This isn’t about that,” I said softly.

Donna looked up at her husband and mouthed something I didn’t understand, but it made him sigh in defeat and shake his head. Donna got up from his seat and sat down beside me. Don sat down on his own chair.

Donna patted my shoulder in support, urging me to go on. She was so nice

“I wanted to talk about julian.

Don parsed his lips. “What about him?”

It was clear that Don was mad at his brother. Maybe worse than that, he was disappointed. But if I was him, I would understand.

Sure, it was stupid and reckless, but he did it for love. Didn’t that mean something?

“I know be made some stupid, reckless decisions, Don,” I said, “He shouldn’t have left his position. Especially not the way he did. But

“Are you here to tell me to reinstate him?” Don’s eyes narrowed.

“I can only ask you to consider it. I know he did something very wrong. But he doesn’t deserve this. Don

Don raised his eyebrows at me. “Wow,” He sighed, looking hall impressed and half disgusted, “You have some guts, hub?

He looked beside me, at his wife and snorted: “What’s wrong with Dante? Sending his woman to me, begging for his position back.”

“He doesn’t know!” 1 said, my words rushed. “He doesn’t know I’m here. He didn’t send me.”

“Then you’re really fucking stupid, Miss Expocito.“

That stung, but I kept up, “Everyone is talking about how he’s weak for doing this, and how your family has a rift now,” I told him. “But…” I trailed off. Don hit the table, and I jumped in my seat.

“He disrespected the family. He disrespected his position, the sanctity of it, the responsibility.” His face twisted into a sneer. “For a woman.”

“For love!” I argued. “Wouldn’t you have done the same for Donna?”

Suddenly there was silence: You could hear a hairpin drop. I regretted the words as soon as I said them. I shouldn’t have said something so personal,

y words.

Donna winced at myExclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Don leaned forward, and I almost pissed my pants. “Be very, very careful about what you say to me, Ginevra.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my gaze downcast. “But I’m really just here to ask you to reconsider. I am the one to blame here. He did it for me. Because 1 created a mess. And I don’t want to be responsible for this.”

“If he deserves it, Ginesta, he will have it back,” Dan said. “Hut this is between him and me. You may leave. Please concentrate on your child and try to get your life in order.”

I stood up, I had done what I could, for now. I had tried. Besides, I didn’t want to piss Don off any further.

“Thank you for your time,” I said and quickly left the room

Leaning against the wall, I heaved a sigh of relief. That had been intense,

The door beside me creaked open, and 1 shifted to look at Donna, who had stepped out.

“Hey,” She kept a soothing hand on my shoulder. Her voice was low and gushy. “You okay?”

1 nodded my head.

“Don’t take Mariano’s words to heart.” She spoke. “He can be tough. And nude, to say the least. But it just comes with the job.

I shook my head. “Of course not, Donna. Lcompletely understand. And I know I crossed a line there. I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean any disrespect to him.” I thought for a second. “Or to you.”

She smiled. “I know you didn’L Mariano is just…but by what Dante did.”

She nodded, smiling sadly as she looked at me. “Mariano is so much older than him. More than a big brother, he’s almost like a second Dad to him, you know?” I nodded. I knew, Julian always spoke of his brother in golden words. He respected him and loved him so much, and was always afraid of disappointing him. Donna continued, “He would never say it, but he blames himself for driving Dante away like this. He feels terrible for putting the mafia over his brother’s feelings.”

“But he’s right to feel disrespected,” I said to her.

“Yes. And I know Dante will eventually make up for it. Don’t worry, Ganny. He’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.”

“You really love him, don’t you?” Donna asked me softly. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.

“I’ve never loved anyone else,” I confessed. It broke my heart a Ettle, to be standing here like this, confessing this truth, I had tried so hard to love Nico. But my heart, my soul,

my body, my entire being belonged completely and fully to Julian. I co

No matter what happened, I was his forever.

I could never love anyone else,

can see that. Her expression was warmer now, Tve known Dante since he was a child. He pretends to be tough and uncaring, but he’s really not You’ll see. I know he’ll make it up to you, and everyone else. You have some making up to do, as well. But you’ll both be fine.” She squeezed my shoulder. “We re like family, okay? You can come to me anytime. For anything”

I nodded gratefully.