Page 124 of Deadly Vows

“Are you ready?” I ask, standing from the blanket I had laid outside.

We’ve remained at the cottage since Luca’s death. He wasn’t lying when he said no one knew where we were. This place is truly the safest haven. It was difficult learning to live here on our own. During the day, I was fine. But at night, the nightmares would come. They became amplified during my pregnancy, and no one was there to make them go away.

Enzo tried his best, but at the end of the day, he’s only a kid.

I carry Luciano inside, placing him in the baby basket and moving to the sink to make his bottle. The house is quiet since Enzo went into town to get fresh flowers for the memorial. I debated giving Luca one, but the debate didn’t last long. Luca was my husband and the father of my child. He died protecting us and should always be remembered for that.

I shift my gaze to the clock. Enzo should be back in the next thirty minutes. Since we have no body, we planted a tree far down by the lake as a remembrance for Luca. I quietly look back at Luciano. He’s fast asleep, and I smile at the sight, putting the bottle away. I don’t want to wake him.

I move to the sliding door, opening it to let the fresh air in. The patio has seats, so I shift my attention to Luciano one more time before moving to sit in the seat, leaning my head back as I enjoy the sunlight.

No one ever prepared me for motherhood. I never thought I’d even make it to motherhood, especially when my own father was plotting my demise. But now that it has taken hold of me, I feel a new sense of responsibility. It helps a little as it takes my mind off my own stressors regarding the future. Luciano is now my future, and I am both excited and happy about that.

My eyes fly open when I suddenly hear Luciano’s laughter. But when I check my watch, I see that Enzo shouldn’t be back for another hour. I quickly stand, pausing when I hear a familiar deep voice.

“I’m here now. I will protect you,mi figlio1.”

Tears spring into my eyes, and I move faster than I ever have, making sure I’m not hallucinating. Sure enough, a man is standing with his back to me as he looks down at my son, his hand gently rubbing his stomach as he speaks.

My heart beats wildly against my chest as I step closer, blinking the tears from my eyes.

“Luca?” I whisper.

I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me the moment he faces me. He’s here. He’s really here. He’s alive. His hair is shorter, and he now has a scar above his eyebrow leading into his hairline. He doesn’t move as I approach, his eyes shifting over me like a man who’s seen his first glass of water in a desert.

I bring my hands to either side of his face, his skin warm beneath my touch. And his right hand covers mine before he brings it to his lips, his eyes meeting mine.

“You’re really here,” I whisper.

My tears fall harder as I step into his embrace.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmurs. “I’m here now.”

I press my ear against his chest, reveling in the sound of his strong heartbeat. And when I feel his lips on my head, I lift my face to his, allowing him to kiss me. His kiss is gentle as his fingers drift through my hair, pulling me into him, and I can’t stop the tears that fall down my face.

“I thought you died,” I whisper as I pull away from him. “How? What happened?”

He smiles at me in pity, using his thumb to wipe away my tears.

“I almost did. I was lucky there was a brick wall to protect me from the brunt of the blast while simultaneously crushing me,” he says.

My eyes widen as he reveals the horrifying details of his near-death experience. He was almost blown up. I reach for his face again, tracing his newest scar.

“I was in a coma for months,” he says.

I release a trembling breath as I pull him into an embrace again.

“Don’t leave me again,” I murmur.

“I won’t,” he says.

I tense when Luciano’s cries interrupt our moment. I move to pick him up, but Luca brushes past me.

“I’ll do it,” he says.

I watch him in despair as he holds his son for the first time. It is as if no time has passed between us. He steps back into the role of our protector seamlessly.

“What’s his name?” he asks.

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