I opened my eyes after what felt like the longest dream ever. Everything felt real and painful, yet I did not remember a single detail. It was so weird how dreams worked, but I guessed it was for the better. 

I tried to get up and start a new day, but it felt like a ton of bricks were on my chest, painfully pressing down. I looked around the room as my vision cleared, and realization dawned on me as the sharp pain in my chest cruised through my body, making me scream in agony.

Not a second later, a nurse entered the room with Dr. Snow in tow. "Hold on, we will increase the morphine dosage. Good to see you awake, Jolene."

"What happened? And how long have I been out?" I asked as I tried to move, but my body felt like a dead weight. The pain subsided after a few minutes of fighting discomfort, and I took a deep breath when the morphine kicked in.

Dr. Snow checked the charts and nodded at the nurse. "To summarize what happened to you: You have been shot, cut open, had fingers near your heart, and we had to perform an emergency surgery. Everything went well. It's eleven in the morning,"

"Saturday? I have been out like a dead person," I said as I felt my mouth dry. "Can I have water?"

"Of course, and you were technically a dead person..." the nurse said as she held out a straw and helped me drink. I felt a bang in my head once I recalled the gunshot sounds. The screams. The tears.

"Thank you," I whispered. She smiled and left my room. "Who had their fingers inside my chest?" I asked as I registered what he said not a minute ago. It sounded terrific.

Dr. Snow checked my legs and my hands. "Camila Guerrero, she's a heart surgeon in the right place at the right time. She saved your life."

"I must be either the luckiest person alive or the most unfortunate to be in this situation in the first place," I joked and tried to laugh, but it was difficult due to the pressure on my chest.

He grinned. "I always look at the glass half full, so you're definitely lucky. Do you want to see your family and friends? They have been waiting for you to wake up for hours now. Oh, and Don Dario was more worried than your dad, which was funny."

I smiled. "Let them in, please."

~~~

I did not have to wait long for them to burst the door open and start crying and cheering for me. Dad was the first to approach me as he kissed my head. Someone was chewing something so loud. I cringed, triggering my misophonia, but tried to ignore the infuriating sound. 

"Hello, Bambi," he said, and I almost groaned at the nickname. It lost its innocence the moment I met Dario.

I glared at Lazlo, who was chewing an apple, and he threw it in the bin once he saw my face. They all heard about my misophonia. I turned my attention to my dad and smiled. "Hey!" I held his hand and kissed his palm. "You look like shit," I added when I saw his hair and shirt buttoned incorrectly.

"All for you," he replied with a smirk, and I chuckled. He was in the mood for jokes, which was relieving. "How are you feeling?" he asked and stepped aside. I looked behind him at the crowd of overly emotional mafia men, Phoebe, Enola, and Diana. But time froze when I saw Dario.

He was on one knee.

An open velvet box in hand.

The most beautiful ring in it.

And he was facing me.

"No..." I whispered in disbelief, and his smile grew.

I did not know what to do. "Bambi," he started, and Dad glared at him. "Jolene," Dario corrected, and Dad nodded. I rolled my eyes at their silly exchange, making everyone chuckle. "Remember when I told you the story about when you were sick and I took care of you?" I nodded, instantly remembering that night. "There was something that I did not mention."

"What?" I breathed the word as Phoebe and Dr. Snow helped me sit upright.

"A promise. It was my most treasured promise because I made it to you."

"What?" I asked again, this time impatient and restless. Everyone grinned at my behavior, but Dario remained serious. He made me anxious but in a good way.

"I promised to be yours forever, even if you weren't mine. I never slept around with anyone because I have always hoped our paths would cross again and you would fall in love with me at some point, with all my flaws and imperfections. I have been in love with you since we were little, but I did not know what these feelings were called until recently. I was in denial for more than twenty years. I am an inexperienced motherfucker willing to learn to give you the best life one could ever hope for. So, Jolene Rose Hansley - hopefully, Romano - will you marry me?"

I did not know if I was crying from the pain in my chest or the ache in my heart. Either way, the pain made me feel alive. It made me feel good. It made everything feel real. I was not dreaming.

I nodded without the need to overthink every good thing in my life. I was done. My life started now with him. All of them. "Yes, I will marry you, Dario." I held my hand, removed the fake ring but still held it to my chest, and let him slip on the real deal. He kissed me gently, making sure not to touch my chest. "I love you," I said between kisses, and everyone clapped, startling me. I forgot they were in the room.

We broke apart, and I looked at Phoebe, who recorded the whole thing while smirking like a maniac. "You could have let me change clothes, at least..." I commented, and the girls groaned.

"We tried, but Dario was too stubborn and impatient to wait another minute," Enola explained, and Diana nodded with a smile.

"But this is so cute. I am happy for you, Jolene," Diana said, and I blew her a kiss.

Dario scoffed. "I waited twenty-five years for you. I was not waiting any longer, more."

~~~

Everyone went home after hours of laughing and chatting, but Dario stayed with me. He refused to leave my side, and I did not complain. "So you entered the jewelry store with bloodied clothes?" I asked as he sat on the chair next to the bed.

"Yeah, the worker almost passed out." He laughed as he recalled what happened there, and I could only imagine the terror in their eyes. I would be shocked, too, if I were in their shoes.

"Oh, and what happened to the Ball and the guests?"

He rubbed his thumb over my ring and smiled. "Everything has been sorted out, and the guests decided to stay another day to ensure that you're alright. Izan and Camila had to fly back home for a family emergency, but they want to talk to you on the phone when you are up for it," he explained, and I nodded.

"Of course! Camila saved my life. I have to thank her."

"You will, and we can visit them someday," he replied, and I smiled but then remembered something important.

"Dario," I began, and he nudged my arm to continue. I hesitated. "Is... Alice okay?"

The hand rubbing my ring stopped, and he looked at me with an unexplainable expression. I feared that I stepped on a landmine. "She is. The bullet only scratched her, but you got hit badly."

"That's good."

"Good that you got shot?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, you idiot. Good that she's okay. When Ottavio died, she looked relieved and, dare I say, happy. If she ever wants to speak to you someday, please give her a chance to explain herself. Don't shun her right away. She stood in front of a bullet for you."

He sighed as he thought about what I said. "We'll see," was his reply.

I decided to change the topic as his scowl deepened from overthinking it. "I still owe Lazlo a meal for slipping the knife in my pants when I was taken."

"He'll have to wait a while longer now," Dario said as he pointed to my chest.

"Yeah. I can't wait to see my scar," I said sarcastically. "I am sure it will look ugly as shit. A new addition to the collection."

"No, you will look as sexy as ever." He kissed me gently, and I held his face in my hands. "I cannot wait for you to walk down the aisle so I can devour you, body and soul, my Bambi."

"That will also have to wait. I need to be fully healed, and I want to open the second branch. The afforable one. I want to make people happy."

"I know you will, as your existence is enough to bless everyone."

"You are still one smooth motherfucker."

~~~ 

10.11.2023 

There's something in my eye... 

One more chapter and an epilogue left. 

I will post them tomorrow, stay tuned!