ACE

Chapter 76: "I'm fine, really."

Playlist for This Chapter: Sweetener by Ariana Grande, Wolves by Selena Gomez.

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"I'm so happy you're okay!" Adriana squealed, hugging me while I laughed.

"I'm okay," I said and heard her sniffling, "Hey, it's aright." 

"It's not okay! You almost died! How is any of this okay?" She spoke furiously while Stuart laughed from behind, earning a smack on the back of his head from Jake.

"You guys are always abusing me." He mumbles with a scowl but Jake only smirked, keeping his eyes on me.

"I'm fine now, believe me." I said hugging her again and saw her nod slowly.

Nico watched us carefully with an unreadable face when I gave him a small smile and he gave me one in return.

"When are you coming home?" Adriana asked me, finally pulling away and wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"I'm not sure. In a few days I think?" I said, looking at Nico who nodded.

"Are you a married woman now?" I asked Adriana and saw her blush as she shook her head.

"We couldn't just hold a wedding ceremony without the maid of honour and with a raging and crazy best man." She said chuckling and I laughed too.

"Who's the best man?" I asked and she pointed to Nico and I gave him a 'you didn't tell me' look but he shrugged.

"So he's the raging and crazy best man?" I asked her smiling and she nodded.

"Yeah, and we couldn't just celebrate if someone from our family was fighting for their life." She smiled sadly and I hugged her again, ecstatic when she said I was part of their family.

"Thank you, for everything." I whispered and she nodded, pulling away when Matteo and Jake came in.

"Ah! The sleeping beauty is awake!" Matteo said and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Where were you my price charming? I've been waiting for you for so long now!" I spoke dramatically with a sweet smile and everyone laughed except for Nico, who was frowning.

He got up from the couch and came to me, wrapping an arm around my waist and giving Matteo a look when he tried to come near me.

"Chill out, fratello, we were only joking." Matteo told him with his hands raised in surrender, making us all chuckle, but Nico's glare only intensified and I saw Matteo gulp.

"On second thought, why don't I go fetch the doctor, yeah?" He said and scurried off, making us laugh at him.

Jake came to me and gave me a quick side hug, under Nico's supervision, of course, as he tightened his hand around my waist when anyone came close to me.

Jake smirked at him an told us he had to make a few calls and gave Nico a nod before leaving.

Adriana made amazing cupcakes that we all ate while talking about the most random things, but I noticed Nico was unusually quiet.

Not that he isn't quiet, but all he did was look at me without any expressions on his face and didn't say anything except for a curt nod or a glare.

When Adriana and Stuart left, I turned to look at Nico to see him already staring at me with a forlorn expression.

"Nico, what's wrong, love?" I asked him and cupped his cheek when he closed his eyes with a small sigh as he leaned into my touch.

"I still can't believe you're here." He whispered, taking my hand and kissing my wrist.

"But I am, and I won't leave you again, I promise." I told him and he nodded, relaxing a bit and sitting down next to me.

"When's the wedding?" I asked Nico who responded after a few moments.

"When you're better." He said and I nodded.

I already knew what they were planning on the wedding, and although I thought it wasn't a good idea to use a wedding ceremony as bait, I did agree that it was a good plan to catch the rest of the traitors.

What surprised me more was that Stuart and Adriana were completely on board with this plan and had no problem.

But then I remembered that they valued loyalty a lot too, and were really pissed off so I guess it made sense.

"Why do you carry a cane? I noticed you were limping too." I asked him and he sighed, kissing my forehead.

"We raided one of Giovanni's safe houses and were outnumbered and some son of a bitch tried to shoot me but missed, although the bullet grazed my leg." He said and I gasped, grabbing his face.

"Are you okay? How hurt are you? Did you get yourself checked?" I asked him frantically and he chuckled and nodded, holding my wrists and gently prying my hands off him.

"I'm okay, the bullet only grazed my left leg, but I have to use a cane to walk for a while." He said and I nodded.

"Why were you so stupid though? You could have gotten seriously hurt!" I said and he took my hands in his.

"I'm fine, it was one of those days when the doctors told us survival chances were very slim and all I wanted to do was kill someone. Giovanni preferably. Or even Liam would do." He shrugged and I gasped, hitting his arm with a pout.

"Nico!" I said but he laughed, kissing my cheeks.

"Now you know how I feel, don't you?" He whispered and I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. I couldn't take it if he got hurt, and now I knew what he felt like while I was in a coma.

"But I do look good with a cane, don't I?" He asked me playfully and I laughed at him.

"Sure, you look like a hot millionaire bachelor." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes and he scoffed.

"Billionaire, sweetheart, and I'm not a bachelor anymore, I'm taken." He said proudly, making me break out into a large grin.

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night." I said smiling and he pecked my lips just as the door burst open.

Ava, Abby, Cole and Daniel came in with wild eyes and when they saw me, they all ran to me with big smiles.

"You're finally awake! You had us so worried, Dovey!" Ava said while she hugged me, sniffling as well as Abby.

"I'm fine, really." I said as they pulled away and and Cole hugged me too, again under Nico's supervision.

I swear he is so possessive sometimes.

"Thank god you're okay." Dan said and ruffled my hair while I smiled at him.

"What on earth were you thinking?" He said but I shook my head.

"Nothing, I wasn't thinking at all. But I'm okay, honestly." I said and heard him sigh.

"You need to be careful, Dovey, but we're so glad you're alright." Cole said when I nodded.

"I know, but I don't regret it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it meant I could keep the one I love safe." I said and felt Nico hold me tighter when I saw my parents come in, my face brightening.

"Dove, sweetheart?" My mom said and rushed to hug me, sobbing against my shoulder.

I saw dad with the same broken expression and gestured him to come too and he joined in on the hug, kissing my forehead.

"We're so glad you're okay." My dad whispered pulling away and I saw the fresh tears in his eyes and in mine too.

"Daddy, you'll make me cry too." I whined and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"You gave us quite the scare. I should ground you." My mom said, hugging me once more before finally pulling away while I chuckled.

"So what now?" Ava asked looking at Nico who smiled at me.

"Now, we plan a wedding." He said and I gave him a toothy grin.