Aria

Chapter 40

-Aria-

"Aria, please."

"I-I'll be okay."

"You still have a fever, and I can't let you sleep by yourself, please." Gabe persists.

"But what i-if you get sick Gabe?"

"Then I can heal myself, I'm a doctor, remember?"

"Y-yes bu-"

"Aria." Alessandro says firmly, "It's either Gabe or I'm taking you to the hospital." I gasp, eyes widening.

No. I definitely didn't want to go there.

My fever had spiked a little, but Gabe gave me something to bring it down.

I just... I don't want them getting sick because of me.

"A-alright, I will s-stay in Gabe's room." I agree.

I rise from my chair, and with Gabe's assistance, make it to the stairs. Before I can take a step up, Gabe lifts me into his arms and pulls me close to his chest. I quickly wrap my arms around him to keep from falling.

"G-Gabe I c-can walk up-"

"I know Aria," he says gently, "but since you are still feeling dizzy, this is the safest option."

I give a small nod as Gabe carries me up the stairs and through the hall. He pushes open his door and gently settles me on his bed. Rushing to the closet he pulls out a large blanket. Once I lay down and rest my head on a soft pillow, Gabe carefully drapes the blanket over me, letting it rest just below my chin.

He turns on a small nightlight before switching off the main room light.

"Munchkin, if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or unwell in any way, please wake me up, okay? I'll make sure you get better in no time," Gabe promises, setting a few items on the side table: a water bottle, medicine containers, a small trash can, tissues, a heating pad, and an ice pack.

"Thank you," I whisper, meeting his loving gaze.

He leans over and presses a kiss on my forehead before settling beside me, "My love, you don't have to say thank you. All I hope is for you to get well."

I sigh softly and sink deeper into the pillows, my body slowly relaxing. My mind drifts to the past few days and how much my life has changed. I think about the memories I have made with my brothers and how excited I am to create more with them and our cousins in the days ahead.

I learned from Leo that their home was in a different city, about two and a half hours away. The cousins along with Matteo and Zeno went to stay the night since they had to attend a business meeting in the morning.

They promised to come back tomorrow and spend a few days here, and I honestly can't wait!

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

-Gabe-

A soft smile tugs at my lips as my beautiful sorellina burrows deeper into the blanket, her breath slow and steady.

I've been dreaming of the day I could be with my little angel again, doing the simple things we used to do as children- laughing, playing, and sharing stories during bedtime under the stars.

When Aria was a baby, holding her made all my worries and pain from training go away. Her presence was proof that even in a world soaked in violence, a speck of joy could still exist.

My nonno and papa were men carved from steel, unwavering and bound by tradition, loyalty, and blood. But the moment she was born, it was as if there was finally light in their lives, in our lives.

My brothers and I grew up in a cruel world, hunting and fighting to maintain the empire my great grandfather had established. But when she was born, papa felt this whole new surge of determination to rise to the top. To be so feared that no one would dare lay eyes on our family. Our missions and training intensified, and although the dark aspects began to overtake our lives and thoughts, a single glance at her made it all worth it.

My hands clench into a fist as my mind races even further. The moment Aria disappeared it was as if the world had stopped. Light itself seemed to die, and what followed was something out of a nightmare, a literal bloodbath-

My thoughts shatter as Aria lets out a soft groan, her delicate features tightening into a frown.

I lift my hand and touch her forehead gently- thank God. The fever is breaking.

I inch closer and wrap my arm around her softly. She instinctively shifts, nestling deeper into my chest, sighing with content.

My sweet munchkin.