50 - ACHILLES | iBookHub

Three weeks later

"Vienna?"

I looked up, "Yes?"

My mother sprinted over to me and pulled me into a hug. "I am so, so sorry." She cried.

I smiled and hugged her back, "It's not your fault."

"I know, but I should have done something." She mumbled.

"Mom, it's fine. He's gone now." I smiled reassuringly.

She sighed in defeat, "I guess so..."

I grinned even more before returning to my chair. I sighed as I looked over my office. After three weeks, I finally decided to return to work. I had managed to fix my apartment and clear it out of Dario's shit. I don't even want to know why that sick bastard moved all his stuff into my room.

I looked through my agenda and gasped, "I have to call Hank, his daughter wants to shadow me."

My mother grinned, "Already done, she'll be here around twelve."

I glanced at the clock, "That gives me an hour to sort through everything. How did the show go?"

"Great! We have twenty new clients."

I sighed in relief, "Thank god. Sorry I threw that all on you and Jade."

My mother shrugged, "You were going through an extremely rough time. I understand."

I smiled a little, leaning back against my chair, I studied my agenda. I have four months before the next show and I was beyond excited to start planning for it. Especially now that the last one was a success.

"I need ideas." I voiced.

My mother nodded, "Jade has a few. I'm working on critiquing the designs sent in from the twenty clients. Whoever has the most loved design after this show will take my job."

I snapped my head up, "You're quitting?"

She chuckled, "More like retiring. Now that Dario is gone, I want to travel. Maybe meet someone else. I know I'm forty two, but...I want to fall in love. If it's possible."

"There are eighty year olds falling in love and getting married. Go for it."

She gave me a thankful smile before leaving to continue her work. I let out a breath and pursed my lips. My thoughts drifted to Stefano who was still in a coma. Angelo wasn't awake either and it's driving all of us insane with worry.

Marco assured us that they were fine and healing extremely well now, but we still worried. We couldn't help it, these two men have helped us. Even though Angelo had caused a lot of damage in the past, we still consider him family.

Their mother ended up walking in while Lexi and I were talking. She pulled us into a hug and thanked us for loving her boys. She then ran into Marco and I'll never forget their looks.

They some how ended up falling for each other. Marco had admitted to having feelings for her in the past, but it wasn't love then. It was an attraction that he loathed then. He loved Jenna, his deceased wife, and didn't want to hurt her.

"Sometimes, fate has other plans. But that doesn't mean cheating is the right thing to do. You make sure if you truly want to stay with your partner. If not, you talk and get a divorce. If you do, then you ignore the other person's advances and focus on your marriage." Marco had told us.

They weren't in love like a couple that has been together for years, they were falling in love though. It had actually brought a smile to my face. Especially when we found out about Antonio abusing her.

I sighed and smiled when Hank and his daughter walked into my office.

"Well, let's show you around." I smiled.

2 months later

I stared at Stefano, after two months he no longer needs the breathing tube, but he isn't awake yet. A doctor suggested we pull the plug, but we all refused. She said the same for Angelo, who is also off the breathing tube. Lexi and I almost slapped that doctor when she continued telling us to pull the plug.

Marco had eventually stepped in and told her to shut up, that she wasn't their doctor. Now, we're just waiting for them to open their eyes.

Vincent is a little worried on how Stefano is going to react to his parents trying to be a part of his life. Marco has done many things before this to make up fot what he had done. But Stefano being Stefano, he had refused to allow his father to speak to him. I sort of felt bad, but I couldn't blame Stefano.

Marco had basically abandoned him, even when his wife loved her step-son, he didn't. He didn't care that Antonio was basically abusive to his son, even if it wasn't physical all the time. He neglected him, turn the other way when his son needed him. He can't just walk back into Stefano's life after eighteen years if ignoring him.

Though, I did understand why he hated him for a while. Stefano and Angelo had caused the fire that killed Marco's wife, but it was more Angelo than Stefano. Stefano was too scared to disobey Antonio.

I looked at Lexi who was resting her head on Angelo's bed. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was soft. Just the other day we found out she was pregnant, though, she wants to make sure the baby is Angelo's.

She had sex with Stefano and Angelo, no one else, but she was still concerned. Whenever she did it with Stefano he wore protection, she used birth control, and had Plan B the morning after. So, it being Stefano's baby was a very slim chance. However, it could still happen.

I sighed and looked at Angelo, I thought over everything he went through. Even though Antonio didn't abuse him, I have a feeling he's going to need therapy as well. His father had forced him to kill multiple people, starting when Angelo was only twelve.

"He's not up yet?"

I looked at the door to see Hank and Payton walking in. I raised an eyebrow when a woman followed.

"No, not yet." I replied.

Payton ran over and hugged me, I chuckled and hugged her back. I then looked at the mysterious woman. Hank followed my gaze and smiled.

"Vienna, this is Payton's mother, Cynthia. Cynthia, this is Stefano's woman, Vienna." He introduced.

Cynthia smiled shyly, "H-hi."

I grinned, "Hi."

"She uh..." he frowned. "It's a long story."

Payton bit her lip, giving her mother a worried look. Cynthia nodded at her daughter before hiding a bit behind Hank.

"My mom was in a train crash five years ago. She lost her memory for a very long time and ran away from us. But now...she has it back but...she's scared of everything." Payton explained with a pained look on her face.

I frowned, "You're scared of the mafia, aren't you?"

Cynthia silently nodded.

I smiled softly, "Don't worry, you'll have a lot of protection. Especially now that he has you back, he's extremely protective over your daughter."

Her eyes lit up as she kissed Hank on the cheek. He smiled at her and pulled her close.

"Now, how come you never mentioned her before?" I asked Hank.

He bit his lip, "I didn't think I would ever find her again."

A/N: I feel like Hank and Cynthia's love story could be beautiful. Now, to actually make it happen is another story lmao. We'll see if I decide to write their story.

I nodded in understanding, "I want to hear all about it some day."

Cynthia chuckled, "Of course."

"Now if only my love would wake up."

"I-I am awake and Hank a-actually has h-his woman again?"

My eyes widened as I snapped my attention to Stefano. His eyes were watching me, when he had gained my attention, his eyes lit up. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I softly hugged him.

"You're awake." I cried.

He weakly hugged me back, "I-I'm sorry for scaring you."

I sat up and smiled, when I cupped his cheek, he leaned into my touch. He relaxed, a smile appeared on his face when he looked at me.

"Would this be a bad time to tell you, I love you?" He asked.

I laughed, "I love you too."

"You know, I wake up only to find my girl asleep. And why the hell is this thing in my arm?"

We all turned to see Angelo glaring at the IV in his arm.

"Are they drugging me?" He asked, looking up at us.

"No, but I am trying to sleep, idiot. Shush." Lexi grumbled.

Angelo frowned and looked at her, he laughed when her eyes widened and she looked at him.

"Oh my god...you're awake!" She shrieked, carefully pulling him into a hug.

Angelo laughed and kissed her, "Hey, princess."