Twisted Loyalty

Chapter 38: After the Storm

Sienna

The first thing I feel is the sterile smell of antiseptic, a sharp contrast to the chaos that had consumed the last few hours. My eyelids flutter open, and I blink, trying to focus on the dim light overhead. The soft beep of machines and the quiet hum of the hospital surround me, and it takes a moment to register where I am.

The hospital.

I try to sit up, but my body feels heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and pain. Everything aches—the bruises, the cuts, the emotional toll—and it takes a second for me to remember everything that happened. Luca... Dante... Oh God. My chest tightens at the memory, my heart pounding in my ears, but when I glance to my side, the panic eases slightly.

Dante is here.

He's slumped in a chair next to my bed, his head resting on the mattress beside me, his hand still holding mine even in sleep. His hair is tousled, his face drawn with exhaustion, but there's something about the way his grip on my hand remains firm, protective, even while he's unconscious.

He saved me.

I close my eyes for a moment, letting the relief wash over me. He came for me, just like he said he would. He fought for me. And now, for the first time in days, I feel like I can breathe again.

As I look around the room, I notice Nico in the corner, sitting awkwardly in a chair, his arms crossed over his chest, head tilted back as he snores lightly. He looks uncomfortable, his large frame barely fitting in the chair, but the sight of him makes me smile just a little. Always by Dante's side, even now.

I turn my head toward the door and see two men standing guard just outside. They're big—bigger than any of Luca's men—and I don't recognize them, but their presence is a reminder of the danger that still lurks. Even with Luca dead, Dante's world is dangerous. There's always someone waiting to make a move.

But right now, I feel safe.

I look back at Dante, his hand still resting on the bed, his chest rising and falling slowly as he sleeps. I can't help but smile slightly, despite the pain. He looks different like this—softer, more vulnerable. The hard, dangerous man I've come to know is hidden beneath the exhaustion, and all I can see is the man who risked everything to save me.

I reach out with my free hand, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. My fingers barely graze his skin, but he stirs, his brow furrowing slightly before he slowly lifts his head, his eyes bleary with sleep.

"Dante," I whisper, my voice raspy, my throat dry.

His eyes snap open fully, immediately locking onto mine, and I can see the relief flood through him. He straightens up, his grip on my hand tightening as he moves closer to the bed.

"Sienna," he breathes, his voice rough with exhaustion and worry. He looks me over, his eyes scanning every inch of me, as if to make sure I'm really here, that I'm really okay. "You're awake."

I nod, my throat too dry to say much, but the look in his eyes tells me I don't need to. He leans forward, brushing a hand gently over my bruised cheek, his touch careful, as if he's afraid he might break me.

"I thought... I thought I'd lost you," he whispers, his voice barely audible, filled with raw emotion.

Tears well up in his eyes, catching me off guard. I've seen Dante angry, furious, but I've never seen him like this—on the edge, vulnerable, broken. The sight of his tears, unshed but glistening in the corners of his eyes, makes my heart twist painfully.

"You didn't," I manage to rasp out, squeezing his hand gently. "You saved me."

His jaw tightens, his eyes glassy as he lowers his head, trying to hide the tears. But I can see the way his shoulders shake, the way he breathes unevenly. He's trying so hard to keep it together, but he can't.

"I should've been there sooner," he says, his voice cracking as a tear slips down his cheek. He wipes it away quickly, as if ashamed to be crying in front of me, but more follow, and soon he's covering his face with his hand, his body trembling with the weight of everything. "Fuck, I should've protected you."

The sight of Dante—Dante Costa—crying, breaks me in ways I didn't expect. I've never seen him so raw, so vulnerable. He's always been my protector, my rock, but right now, he's the one falling apart. And it's all because of me.

"Dante..." I whisper, reaching out to touch his arm. "You did protect me. You came for me. That's all that matters."

He shakes his head, his voice hoarse. "I shouldn't have let you get hurt in the first place. You shouldn't have had to go through that."

I pull his hand away from his face, gently forcing him to look at me. "Stop. You can't blame yourself for what Luca did. You saved me. You always save me."

His gaze locks onto mine, his eyes filled with guilt, pain, and something deeper. His lips tremble as he struggles with the words, but then, with a shuddering breath, he lets them out.

"I love you, Sienna," he says, his voice raw and trembling, but there's no hesitation. No doubt. "I love you more than anything. And the thought of losing you..." His voice breaks again, his hands trembling as he cups my face. "I can't lose you."

The confession hangs in the air between us, thick and heavy, and I feel my heart stutter. I've imagined Dante saying those words—hoped for it—but hearing them now, after everything we've been through, it's overwhelming. Tears spill down my cheeks, and I can barely find my voice.

"Dante..." I whisper, my voice cracking, my chest tight with emotion. "I love you too."

His breath catches, and for a moment, the world feels like it's stopped. He leans in, pressing his forehead to mine, his breath shaky as he holds me, as if he's afraid I might slip away.

"I'll never let anything happen to you again," he murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple, his voice filled with fierce determination. "I swear on everything, Sienna. I'll protect you. I'll love you. Always."

I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his words wash over me, letting them soothe the wounds that still ache inside me. His love is the one thing that feels steady, solid. And right now, that's all I need.

"I'm not leaving you alone again, Sienna," he whispers through his tears, his voice shaky. "Ever."

I nod, my heart aching as I hold him. "I'm not going anywhere."

We stay like that for what feels like forever, both of us clinging to each other, the weight of everything finally catching up with us. Dante's tears slow, but he doesn't let go. He holds me as if I'm the only thing keeping him grounded, as if letting go would mean losing me all over again.

Just then, Nico stirs in his chair, rubbing his eyes and stretching out his long limbs with a groan. He glances over at us, his tired grin fading slightly when he sees the state we're in, but he doesn't say anything. He just gives a small nod, as if to say he understands.

"Glad to see you're awake, princess," Nico says, his voice soft, giving us the space we need. "You had us worried."

I force a small smile through my tears. "Hey, Nico."

He nods toward the door, where the two men are still standing guard, alert and silent. "We've got eyes on the place. You're safe here."

I glance at Dante, who's still holding me tightly, his face pressed against my shoulder. I know he won't let anything happen to me. I know that now more than ever.

"I'm safe now, right?" I ask quietly, more for my own reassurance than anything.

Dante lifts his head, his eyes red but determined. He brushes the hair away from my face, his hand trembling slightly as he cups my cheek. "You're safe," he whispers, his voice filled with raw emotion. "I swear, Sienna. Nothing's going to hurt you again."

His words settle over me like a warm blanket, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I believe it. I'm safe. Dante won't let anything happen to me.

I let my head sink back into the pillow, the exhaustion creeping over me again, but this time, it's not laced with fear. I'm too tired to fight the sleep pulling me under, but as my eyes close, I feel Dante's fingers brushing through my hair, his presence grounding me, keeping me safe.

And for the first time in a long time, I sleep peacefully.