Serafina's POV

Dante.

The name echoed in my mind, tangled with fragments of memories I hadn't dared to hold onto. A soft laugh. Strong arms lifting me into the air. Green eyes like mine, filled with warmth and love.

But that was a dream, wasn't it?

I stared at the man standing before me. His face was sharp, his jaw tight, and his presence filled the room like a storm. He looked nothing like the blurry images in my mind, but those eyes... Those eyes were the same.

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to.

But Gary's voice ripped through the moment, shattering the fragile thread of hope.

"Get the hell out of my house!" he roared, pulling himself up from the floor. Blood dripped from his split lip, but his rage burned brighter than his pain.

I flinched instinctively, pressing myself against the wall. My chest tightened, and my breathing quickened. No. Not again. Please, not again.

Before Gary could take a step toward me, Dante moved faster than I thought possible. His hand shot out, grabbing Gary by the collar and slamming him against the wall.

"You're done," Dante growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't get to touch her ever again."

Gary's hands clawed at Dante's grip, his face turning red. "You think you can come in here and—"

Dante cut him off by tightening his hold, his other hand curling into a fist. "You don't get to talk, either."

Linda tried to intervene, but another man—the one with sharp, calculating eyes—was already on her, shoving her back into a chair. "Sit," he said sharply, his gun now visible at his side. "This is between them."

The sight of the gun made my stomach churn. This wasn't real, was it? People didn't just show up and save you. Not in real life.

But Dante's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"Fina," he said, softer now, his eyes never leaving mine. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm here."

Fina. The name hit me like a lightning bolt. Nobody called me that. Nobody.

"How do you know that name?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He released Gary, letting him collapse to the floor in a coughing heap, and turned to face me fully. His expression softened, his hands open and nonthreatening.

"Because I used to call you that," he said. "When we were kids. You were my little star, remember?"

Little star.

The words unlocked something deep inside me. Images flickered in my mind—being carried on someone's shoulders, the sound of laughter, a lullaby sung in Italian. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I shook my head, overwhelmed.

"I don't... I don't remember," I choked out.

"It's okay," he said gently, stepping closer. He didn't try to touch me, just stayed close enough for me to feel his presence. "You don't have to remember everything. But I do. I never stopped looking for you, Fina. None of us did."

None of us.

"You... you're really my brother?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"I am," he said firmly. "And so are they. Dante, Enzo, Luca, Antonio, and Mattheo. We're your family, and we've been waiting to bring you home."

Home.

The word felt foreign on my tongue. I didn't know what home was anymore.

"I..." My knees buckled, and I slid to the floor, my back against the wall. My hands shook as I buried my face in them. "I don't know what to do."

Dante crouched in front of me, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "You don't have to do anything, Fina. Just let us take care of you. Let us fix this."

I looked at him through my tears, unsure if I could believe him. Could I really let myself hope? Let myself trust?

Before I could answer, the other man—Enzo—bent down beside me. "Come on," he said gently. "Let's get you out of here."

I hesitated, my body trembling as I stared at the floor. "Is it really over?" I whispered.

"It's over," he promised.

I let him help me to my feet, my legs unsteady beneath me. As we moved toward the door, I glanced back at Dante. He was watching me, his jaw tight, his eyes filled with something fierce and unrelenting.

For the first time in years, I felt the faintest flicker of safety. Maybe... maybe it was over.

Dante's POV

Seeing her break like that... It destroyed me.

The girl I remembered was fearless, her laughter brighter than the sun.

Now, she was huddled against the wall, trembling, her arms wrapped around herself like armor. Years of pain had crushed her, and I hadn't been there to stop it.

I knelt in front of her, keeping my voice steady. "You don't have to do anything, Fina. Just let us take care of you. Let us fix this."

Her tear-filled eyes locked onto mine, flickering between hope and fear.

Before she could answer, her gaze darted to the man behind me Gary. My blood boiled.

"You're done," I growled, standing slowly. "You don't get to touch her ever again."

Gary tried to push himself up, blood dripping from his split lip. "You think you can just-"

I didn't let him finish. My fist slammed into his jaw, silencing him. He crumpled, groaning, but it wasn't enough. My chest burned with fury.

"Every scar, every bruise," | said coldly, "that's on you. You're alive right now because I'm showing restraint."

"Dante," Enzo said sharply, stepping closer. "We need to go. She can't stay here."

I looked at Fina. She was slumped, her fragile body shaking, eyes wide with terror. Enzo was right.

"Take her to the car," | said.

Enzo nodded and crouched in front of her, speaking gently. She let him help her up, leaning on him as they headed to the door.

She glanced back at me once, her gaze filled with questions I couldn't answer yet.

When the door shut behind them, I turned back to Gary and Linda.

"You don't touch a Romano," I said, my voice low and deadly.

Gary scrambled backward. "I-I didn't know-"

"You knew," I spat. "You could have let her go, but you kept her here. You hurt her."

Linda started to cry, stammering excuses, but I didn't care. My fists did the talking, and by the time I was done, Gary was barely conscious, and Linda sat sobbing in the corner.

"This is mercy," I said.

"But if you ever come near her again, you won't get another chance."

I left them there, stepping outside and into the driver's seat.

Enzo was in the back with Fina, her head resting on his shoulder, her body limp with exhaustion.

"She's out," Enzo murmured.

I nodded, gripping the wheel tightly.

She was safe now.

And I would kill before I let anyone hurt her again.