By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers #3)(94)

I wished I could share her conviction, but Santino and I had a lot to discuss before I could decide about his future—once his health allowed it naturally. I’d give him a fair chance to defend himself, for Anna and for Enzo.

Anna pressed her cheek against my chest. “Dad, please don’t punish Santino, not for loving me.”

“As you described it, there are plenty of other misconducts I can punish him for.”

“Dad!” Anna said with a pout. She, like her mother, had a miraculous talent to get her will. I’d long given up fighting it. “Promise you won’t punish Santino too badly. Please.”

I kissed the top of her head. “I can’t promise anything yet, but I’ll certainly keep in mind that your well-being is on the line as well. For now, we have to wait for Santino to get better.”

“I hope he wakes soon.”

I hadn’t told her the news about him waking up yet, had thought it more prudent to talk to her before her mind was occupied with Santino. “He did wake. Enzo sent me a message a few minutes ago.”

Anna’s eyes grew huge in disbelief then pure happiness reflected on her face. For a father to see this kind of emotion on their child’s face because of a man they should punish harshly was a nightmare. It wouldn’t be the first time the women in my life made me blur the lines of what should be done for the sake of the Outfit. Yet, I still wasn’t convinced Santino was someone I wanted around Anna.

“Can I see him? Please, Dad, I need to see him and tell him that I didn’t marry Clifford. He probably thinks I’m already married.”

“All right.”

Anna hollered in joy, throwing her arms around me. Despite my intention to hold on to my anger, her happiness filled me with relief. I patted her back, then pulled back and said sternly. “You can visit, but I’ll need to talk to him. And after that, we all need to figure out a solution with the Clarks.”

Anna bit her lip. “They’ll want to ruin us, I suppose.”

“Maximo Clark most definitely, but I can handle him. It won’t be pleasant, though. Maybe Santino can be of help. That way he can prove to me that he’s willing to atone for his betrayal.”





“She doesn’t deserve you. You deserve someone who chooses you!” Dad shouted.

The door swung open and Anna stumbled in, dressed in a wedding dress. Some of her mascara was smudged and her cheeks were flushed.

She froze when she spotted me. I sank down on the bed, my legs suddenly too weak to carry me. Fuck. I’d never been a fucking weakling.

She didn’t move from her spot in the doorway. “You’re really awake.”

I forced a smile. “Yeah. I missed your wedding.”

She stepped in. “I didn’t. I couldn’t.”

I frowned, hope blooming in me. “You couldn’t what?”

“I couldn’t say yes. I knew it would have been better for the Outfit and that I was being selfish, but I couldn’t say yes to Clifford. I’m not married.”

“You left Clifford at the altar on your wedding day and dashed off in your dress like a runaway bride?” I smirked, but my insides were exploding with emotions. Fuck. Anna had chosen me.

Anna rolled her eyes and huffed. She still hadn’t moved from her spot in the doorway.

“Why couldn’t you marry him?”

Anna gave me a pleading look. “You know why.”

I had absolutely no intention of making this easy on her. Not after what she’d put me through. “Enlighten me.”

“Because of you, Sonny. Because I love you even if you annoy me more than any other person ever does.”

I chuckled and opened my arms. Anna rushed over to me and half fell into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my middle, hugging me tightly. It took me a moment to realize what Anna had said. She’d admitted her love to me. I pulled away a few inches, scanning her face.

Dad cleared his throat. Both he and Frederica watched us in embarrassment. “We’ll give you some time to talk.”

Dad stepped back, exchanging a look with Frederica before the two of them left the room and closed the door.

I ran my hand over Anna’s hair. She must have had it in an updo for the wedding but most of the pins had fallen out by now. “I’m sorry it took me so long to cancel the wedding. I should have done it much sooner.”

“You should have. Of course you picked the worst possible moment. I’m sure your father is already planning my beheading.”

Not that I cared. Knowing that Anna could finally be mine was worth an early grave.

She lifted her head, her eyes soft and actually glassy. “I thought I’d lose you. I was terrified. The idea that you might not be there anymore… I couldn’t bear it.”

“I’m alive, and I have no intention of dying anytime soon.”

“Ever,” she said firmly.

“I definitely intend to die before you, because I sure as fuck don’t want to live without you.”

Anna shook her head with a small smile. “This is macabre.”

I cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss, wanting to taste her without the fear of getting caught, without the knowledge that our togetherness was doomed to be temporary. There was no expiration date for our love anymore. No wedding that hung over our heads like a Damocles sword.