The Woman at the Docks (Grassi Framily)

I flew at him, managing to stop myself from flinging my body over his when I noticed the bulkiness of his body under his gown—bandages from the surgery.

I dropped instead into the small space at this side, reaching for his hand crushing it between both of mine.

"Hey you," I said, feeling the tears fill my eyes again.

"How's your arm?"

"Oh my God. You were shot like five times and you're asking about my arm?"

To that, his lips twitched again.

"I heard you've been giving everyone hell."

"Each and every one of them deserved it," I informed him with a nod. "Except for that nurse. I feel bad about that. I have to send her a muffin basket and a note. Something along the lines of 'Sorry for threatening you with a mob hit, I was just scared.' That should do it."

"Don't make me laugh," he demanded, starting to, then wincing.

"Sorry. It's been a heavy night. It's nice to have a little laugh. Even if it hurts."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"Yeah, what the hell, Luca? How dare you get shot and need surgery and leave me surrounded by your people? You inconsiderate ass," I teased, getting another chuckle and wince. "Hey Luca?" I said a moment later.

"Yeah, sweetheart?"

"You were right."

"About what?"

"Right before you passed out. You said I was the right woman. I am. I'm the right woman. We can do this."

His eyes were warm, smile sweet as his hand squeezed mine.

"Yeah, we can."

And so we did.

Epilogue

Romy

"That's a lot of cars," I observed as we pulled down the street leading to his Aunt Adrian's house.

"It's a big family," he reminded me, giving me flashbacks to the night at the hospital after I dipped out to get changed, get some food, coming back to learn he'd had visits from twenty people.

I didn't even know twenty people, let alone well enough for them to visit me in the hospital.

He'd tried to explain the family tree to me as we ate the baked ziti his aunt had dropped off, but my head started spinning, all the stories molding together into one giant blur.

I thought I would be better learning on the fly with faces to go with names.

But seeing all the cars filled me with a nervousness I hadn't expected.

They were his family, after all.

They would be judging me.

They would never admit to that, but they would.