Page 103 of His Vicious Desire

“You’re welcome.”I sigh into his mouth as he kisses.Anything to see him as happy as he is now.

Epilogue

Nine years later

Bianca

“Sandro, please stop encouraging your nephew to kick anyone’s ass.I’m not spending another afternoon in the principal’s office.”I exhale slowly.

Carina nudges her husband.“Sandro,” she murmurs in a sing-song.

“Violence should be the last refuge for those who are unable to defeat their foe mentally.”Sandro intones to my eldest son.

Max considers the words, before nodding.“What about when the foe is really stupid and won’t give up?”

“Go make sure your cousins are behaving.”Gaetano nudges our eldest son, who is far too serious already.

I’m grateful when he doesn’t argue with his father, simply goes to observe his cousins and sisters playing together.

I don’t miss the look that passes between Sandro and Gaetano.

When we’re in bed, I ask about the look.

Gaetano sighs and pulls me into his arms.“He’s mafia without us having to press him into it.”

The words are heavy and sit in the pit of my stomach.I always knew this would happen one day.It’s just…I thought I’d have more time.“What would that mean for him?”

“It means probably next year I will take him with me to things like cutting up coke, and our daily operations in and out of the hotel.He won’t touch a gun for a few more years.I promise you that.But eventually he is perfect for what we do and need.”A big hand cups the back of my head.“You okay?”

Sighing, I nod.“Yeah, I am.I knew this was coming.He’s a little you in every way.”

“Talk to me, angel.”

“I don’t know.I’m not upset.There’s just always going to be a part of me that worries he’ll resent us for giving him this life when there are others out there.Will he have a choice?”I whisper.

It’s wrong of me to fear the life my son will have when I have been working for the property on the strip for the last two years.I have finally put my two degrees to use and have loved what I do.It wasn’t easy to give in to the idea of a nanny and not being there for my children one hundred percent of the time.Yet it strengthened our bonds instead of straining them.Then again, it helped that I only needed to work for four or five hours a day.

He nods.“I talked with Sandro and I told him that we’ll begin everything, but before he’s sixteen, he can make his own decision of what he wants his life to be.”

“And if he decides he doesn’t want to?Will you?—”

“Hey, whatever our children decide to do with their lives, I’ll support.Would I like him with me, no?I want him where he wants to be.If he does it out of obligation, he’ll grow to hate it and me, and I couldn’t take that.”

It’s almost embarrassing how relieved I am.“I’m glad.Thank you for that.”

“It only makes sense.How are you doing?You seemed a little…I don’t know today.Were you worried about Max?”

I shake my head and go into his arms.God, ten years of marriage and he’s still as gorgeous as he was the first night I met him.Thank god the kids are sleeping through the night now, because I need this man to make love to me all night.

“It was because I finally realized something.All those years ago, you didn’t help me come off the speed for Sandro.You did it for me.”

One side of his beautiful mouth slides up.“You only now figured it out?”

“I wasn’t positive until Sandro snorted at Mike’s stint in rehab because he was annoyed he couldn’t come off it on his own.”I run a finger over the tattoo of a reaper on his chest.This is something I could do in the dark.“You were protecting me from his disdain.”

My husband nods.“I figured you didn’t need one more thing to torture yourself with when you're around him.”

“Even then, you loved me.”I smile widely at him.

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