Page 66 of Of Oaths and Secrets

I decide to play into his narrative. “Come on, we both know Leo’s too stupid to pull off something like this. If he were involved, I would’ve found something.”

He sighs, the tension in his posture easing as he slumps back in his chair. “You’re right,” he mutters. He stands up, done with whatever he was trying to find here. “I will have Fredo found and brought to me. We’ll see what he has to say for himself.”

I nod. “As you should.”

He studies me for a moment, then the tension in the room seems to ease as he changes the subject. “So, when is the heir coming?”

The question is unexpected, and the image of Nora pregnant flashes in my mind—round with my child, glowing with life. It stirs something primal inside me, an unfamiliar feeling of longing combined with a protective instinct I’ve never felt before.

“We’re working on it,” I reply, my voice steady but my mind racing.

“Good, good,” he says, standing up to leave. “A Lucchese heir will solidify your position. Don’t wait too long.”

I watch as he leaves, my mind still spinning with thoughts of Nora. Once he’s gone, I grab my laptop and leave, breaking most of the speed limits as I rush home.

The urgency to see her— to be near her—drives me faster, and when I finally walk into the house, it’s all worth it. I find my beautiful wife curled up on the sofa in the library, a book in her hands and Fate lying peacefully beside her. The soft glow of the fire illuminates her face, and she looks so serene, so perfectly at home in this space that used to feel cold and empty.

She could easily be reading in bed, but she’s here, waiting for me. A warmth spreads through my chest, and I hope that maybe—just maybe—she’s starting to enjoy my presence as much as I do hers.

Though probably not as much as I do—because mine is quickly turning into something more than just affection. It’s turning into obsession.

But for now, seeing her like this, content and safe, it’s enough.

“Hey,” I say softly, stepping closer to her. She looks up, a small smile playing on her lips, and in that moment, everything outside this room fades away. It’s just us. Just her.

“Rafaele, how was your day?” she asks.

“Good.”Better now.

Before I can overthink it, I lean down and kiss her forehead, then instead of taking the chair across from the sofa, I grab her feet and sit there, pulling them onto my lap. She arches her eyebrows in surprise, but the soft smile on her face widens, and she snuggles deeper into the cushions, getting more comfortable.

I slide my hands under the blanket and rest them on her dainty feet, giving them a gentle squeeze. Fate shoots me a glare from her spot beside Nora, and I glare right back.

Sorry, sweet girl, but you’ll need to learn to share. She was mine first.

Nora lets out a soft, content sigh, her eyes closing for a moment, and I feel something shift between us—a connection that goes beyond words. This is it, I think. This is what I’ve been craving. The quiet, the closeness, the calm of just being here with her.

“I had my introduction lecture today for my master’s,” she says, breaking the silence.

“Oh, how did that go?”

She opens her eyes and meets mine. “Good. I’m excited about it. Thank you.”

I squeeze her foot gently before sliding my thumb up and down the top of it. She shivers at the contact, and it makes me smile. It’s funny—touch used to mean nothing to me. Now, I crave it from her. Her hands on me—my hands, mouth, andtongue on her soft skin. I’m grateful that she seems to feel the same way.

“You never need to thank me,” I say quietly. “You deserve it. It’s not for me to decide what you do or don’t do.”

She nudges me with her foot playfully. “Look at that—my husband, a feminist.”

I chuckle, but then her words sink in. “Are you impressed?”

“I’m impressed by everything you do,” she says, so simply, so earnestly, not realizing how much her words hit me. I crave that—her being impressed, proud of me. It’s something I didn’t even know I needed until now.

“Can I ask you something?”

She nods. “Sure.”

“Why literature? I mean, why are you so into it? I find it fascinating, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve always wondered what draws you to it.”

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