Fragile Longing

“She was in a car accident,” he murmured, his voice heavy with guilt and wistfulness.

I’d heard different stories about how badly the car had crashed. Some rumors speculated that Danilo had been the driver and that it had been swiped under the rug. Given his obvious feelings of guilt, I wondered if the rumors had some truth to them.

“Emma had a ballet show one evening. My father was in hospital because of his cancer and Mother spent the evening with him. He was just recovering from surgery. I went to see Emma’s show but shortly before it was over, I got a call from one of our men that there had been a bloody conflict with the Bratva.” Danilo glowered into the flames as he replayed the day. I angled my body so I could see him better.

“Father couldn’t handle it because of his sickness, so I had to deal with the matter. I chose to leave the show early and let Emma’s bodyguard drive her home so I could head out to the bar that had been attacked. An hour later, Marco called me to tell me Emma had been in a brutal crash.”

His voice carried so much pain and regret that my own heart felt heavy.

“I drove to the hospital, the same hospital where my father was recovering. She was still in surgery when I arrived. When the doctor told me that her spine was crushed and that the chances of her ever walking again were close to zero, I thought the rug was being pulled from under my feet. And then I had to tell my parents, because nobody had informed them about the crash yet.”

He paused, the pain of the memory palpable. I linked our fingers, wishing I could have been there for him that day.

“When I entered my father’s hospital room and saw him and mother both already at the edge of what they could take, I considered lying to them, but they deserved to know the truth. My mother broke down crying, and my father tried to get up from the bed, even though his surgery had only been the day before. They didn’t blame me, which for some reason only made me feel worse.”

“But you didn’t drive the car. It was the bodyguard’s job to protect Emma and take her home safely. You couldn’t have known that he’d crash. You tried to fulfill your duty to the Outfit like your father probably expected from you. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Danilo’s smile was grim. “I still feel like it was my job to keep my sister safe. She loved ballet so much, and she was really talented, and then in one moment, it was taken from her without any fault of her own. All because the bastard of a bodyguard felt provoked by another driver and chose to participate in a street race. The asshole had drunk alcohol.”

“What happened to him?”

For a second, harsh brutality reflected in his eyes and I knew the answer. “He got the death he deserved, begging for mercy but being denied just like Emma’s denied a normal life.”

I squeezed his hand. “Emma is such a positive person. She’s strong. She’s taking it with so much grace. I doubt she blames you.”

“She doesn’t. She’s told me that repeatedly, but like you, she’s too kind for this world, Sofia.”

I pursed my lips. “Being kind doesn’t mean being blind to the truth. You weren’t guilty. End of the story.”

“You don’t seem to leave me any choice but to take your word for fact,” he said with barely hidden amusement.

I braced myself on his chest, trying to look stern. “That’s right. I’m putting my foot down.”

He shook his head, chuckling. “I guess then I have no choice but to listen to you.”

I leaned forward and kissed him.

“Do you miss her?” he asked carefully.

He didn’t have to say her name for me to know he was talking about Serafina. I was taken aback by him bringing my sister up. So far, he’d avoided her like the devil avoided holy water.

“Yeah, sometimes. Especially at Christmas or birthdays, but sometimes just in ordinary situations, but it’s okay. She’s got her life, and I’ve got mine.”

I waited for his anger, because it usually came quickly when Las Vegas was mentioned, even just in passing. I considered telling him the truth, that I’d talked to Fina on the phone a few times, but then chose not to do it. He’d take it as betrayal, which was another reason why I wasn’t sure if I could talk to my sister again. “What about you?”

His brows furrowed. “Why would I miss her? I never spent time with her. I have you, and I don’t want anyone else.”

I leaned against him, soaking up his words eagerly. They were said without hesitation.

Goosebumps pricked my skin from the cool breeze. Danilo stroked my arm. “Should we go in? You’re cold.”