“I love you,” he murmurs against my skin, the words catching me by so much surprise that air stalls in my lungs. “I’m in love with you, Vivienne.”
28
Antonio
Vivienne jumps up from the dining table when she sees me walk in. She’s beaming with a smile that is so full of love and warmth, everything I need after all the bloodshed the last couple of days.
It’s been three days since the party, and I had the beach house guarded while I went out to hunt for Salvatore two nights ago. The old fucker did a good job at hiding from me; I give him that. But he’ll be crawling out of whatever hole he’s hiding in soon enough, and I swear I’ll get him then.
Vivienne runs up to me and wraps herself around me. I hug her back, lifting her up and peppering her with kisses. I’ve missed her so much these last two days.
“How are you,gattina?” I ask, still holding her firmly against me.
She looks up at me and giggles. “Aside from my morning sickness, I think I’m fine. I was worried about you.”
I pull back and drop down on one knee to touch her belly. I still can’t believe I am going to be a father soon. I’ve not hadmuch time to process all of this, but the thought of it fills me with much more happiness than I can express.
“How are you, little one?” I ask, rubbing her stomach softly. “You’ve been giving your mama trouble, haven’t you?”
Vivienne’s laughter rings in the air, so hearty and bubbly that it is contagious. I should laugh, too, but all I feel is my heart rate quicken and tears well in my eyes—tears of happiness.
So this is what being alive feels like. I’ve been dead for so long…but now, because of Vivienne, I feel alive.
“He’s really troublesome,” Vivienne says. “I wonder who he gets it from?”
I glance up at her—my wife, the woman who somehow pulled me out from the darkest pit of hell and made me feel alive again. I still can’t believe she’s mine. I still can’t believe that any of this is happening.
“He?”
“I’m just using that since we don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet,” she says, her tone high with excitement. “I think he gets it from you.”
I tryto stifle my laughter, but it just erupts through me. “We’re done for if he or she comes out with your smart mouth. Anyway…” I stand to my feet and snake my arms around her waist. “We’re going home today. Ginny and Agatha are waiting.”
She narrows her eyes. “Home? And Salvatore?”
“I’ve invaded his territory and taken down most of his men. He’s gone into hiding,” I explain. “He won’t make any stupid moves for now.”
She nods and cups her belly.
My chest tightens at that. She’s already so protective over our child, and I feel so protective over the both of them. I’ll do anything to keep them safe, including following Salvatore intothe depths of hell until he’s no longer a threat to her and our baby.
I’ll give my life to protect them if need be.
“I’ll get my things ready then.” She turns around to leave but pauses and scrutinizes me. “You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
I shake my head, despite the painful throbbing in my right shoulder. One of Salvatore’s men managed to land two blows on me with his gun.
She smiles. “Thank goodness. I’ll grab my things.”
It’sevening by the time we get to the mansion. I can hear Ginny’s voice all the way from the foyer as she orders Agatha around on what she thinks Vivienne will like to eat.
Vivienne’s eyes light up at the sound of her voice. “Looks like someone really did miss me.”
“Aye, someone did,” a deep voice says.
We turn around to find Dario descending the stairs.
“She threatened to chop my dick off if I didn’t bring her here and convince Antonio to bring you home,” Dario continues with a shake of his head as he approaches us. “I heard from Antonio that you’re both going to be parents. Congratulations.”