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Ciara’s Pov
The hospital doors burst open as Zaverio’s men rushed in, carrying him on a stretcher.
“Help him! Please!” I cried, gripping his bloodstained hand as they wheeled him toward the emergency unit.
“Miss, you have to stay outside,” a nurse said gently, trying to pull me away
I shook my head furiously. “No! I’m not leaving him-”
“Ciara.” Marco’s strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back as the doors swung shut
I collapsed against him, sobbing uncontrollably. My hands trembled, still covered in Zaverio’s blood. The image
of him pushing me out of the way, taking that bullet, haunted me.
He saved me. Again.
Marco rubbed my back. “He’s strong. He’ll make it.”
I couldn’t speak. My chest ached as if the bullet had hit me instead.
A few minutes later, familiar voices echoed in the hallway.
“Ciara!”
I turned just as my parents and Adam rushed toward me.
My mother cupped my face, her eyes wet with tears. “Thank God you’re safe!”
@
My father pulled me into a tight hug, his strong arms making me feel like a little girl again. “We were so worried.”
The Divorced Binare Mafia Queen
Adam wrapped his arms around both of us. “Don’t you ever scare us like that again.
I nodded against his shoulder, letting myself be held. I had missed them so much. But even in their embrace, my heart remained heavy.
Zaverio was lying on an operating table, fighting for his life because of me.
“I’ll deal with Hailey later,” I muttered, stepping back and wiping my face. “Right now, I just need him to be okay”
The tension in my father’s jaw tightened. “She won’t get away with this.”
Before I could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the hallway.
Tony
Adam moved before I could, slamming his fist into Tony’s face the moment he got close.
“You bastard!” Adam roared as Tony stumbled back, clutching his jaw. “How dare you show your face here? You almost got my sister killed!”
I
Tony spit blood onto the floor and held up his hands. “I swear, I didn’t mean for this to happen.” His desperate eyes met mine. “Ciara, I’m sorry, I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
I crossed my arms, my voice cold. “You had me kidnapped, Tony.”
He shook his head. “No! I just wanted to scare you! My men weren’t supposed to hurt you–I swear. And Hailey… had no idea she would go this far. I broke up with her! I sent her away
I let out a bitter laugh. “And what do you want me to do with this confession, Tony? Feel sorry for you?”
“Ciara, please.” He took a step closer, his voice breaking. “I know I was wrong. I know I hurt you. But I love you. always have.”
I blinked, stunned.
Then, I laughed.
It wasn’t a laugh of amusement. It was sharp, hollow–full of the years of pain he had put me through,
“You love me?” I repeated mockingly. “Tony, you don’t know the first thing about love.”
‘I do! I know I messed up, but I still want you. I want us to try again-
“You’re pathetic.”
His face crumbled.
Before he could say another word, Adam pulled out his phone and pressed play.
Tony’s voice filled the air.
“We have Ciara. She’s not going anywhere unless she agrees to marry me.”
Then his father’s voice.
“She’ll give in. She has no choice.”
Tony’s face drained of color.
My stomach twisted in disgust.
“We accused you before without evidence,” Adam said, his voice cold. “But now? We have proof.”
Tony turned to me, desperate. “Ciara, I-”
“I was a fool to love you,” I cut him off. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
I
Tears filled his eyes. “You still love me. I know you do.”
I stared at him for a long moment.
Then, I smiled.
And laughed again.
“I don’t love you, Tony.” M was calm, steady. “I don’t think I ever truly did.”
I
Just then, the sound of heavy boots echoed in the hallway. The police arrived, surrounding Tony.
“You’re under arrest for kidnapping,” one of them said, pulling out handcuffs.
G
The Divorced Man
Tony whipped his head toward me, panic flashing across his face. “Ciara, please!”
I tilted my head. “I thought you said you just wanted to scare me?”
His mouth opened, but no words came.
The officers grabbed him, and as they dragged him away, he kept his eyes on me.
But I had nothing left to say.
The moment he was gone, I exhaled, feeling a weight lift off my chest.
Then, the emergency room doors opened.
A doctor stepped out, pulling off his gloves. “Zaverio Gurrelio?”
I rushed forward. “How is he?“.
“He’s out of danger.”
Relief crashed over me so hard my knees almost gave out
“He’s awake,” the doctor continued. “And he’s asking for you.”
I didn’t wait. I ran.
The moment I entered his room, my breath caught in my throat.
Zaverio lay on the hospital bed, his face pale, his arm hooked up to an IV. But his eyes–those dark, beautiful eyes -were watching me.
The second I reached his bedside, I wrapped my arms around him, careful not to hurt him.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” I whispered against his shoulder.
His fingers trailed up my back, weak but steady. “Then people need to stop trying to hurt you,” he murmured. “Because I will always protect you.”
His words sent a warmth through me, I pulled back slightly meeting his gaze. His lips curved into that familiar smirk, but his eyes were soft, vulnerable.
And before I could think, before I could talk myself out of it-
I leaned down and kissed him.
