Page 26 of Spider
“Sweetheart, I hate to tell you this, but Violeta lost her baby.She’s fine, and Rocket is taking good care of her.”
The tension eased from her shoulders.“Good.Is it horrible that I’m glad she isn’t pregnant anymore?”
“No, not considering the circumstances.She’s young.Too young.But if she’d had the baby and decided to give it up, we’d have made sure the kid found a good home.And if she’d had it and wanted to keep it, then we’d have helped with that too.Neither of you are alone anymore, Luciana.You have an entire family standing behind you, whether they’re blood or not.”
“When’s my appointment?”she asked.
“You have enough time to have some breakfast, shower, and get ready to go without rushing.”
“So I can sit here a little longer?”she asked.
“Of course.”I leaned over and kissed her cheek.“Drink your juice and I’ll fix you something to eat.Eggs and toast sound okay?”
She nodded and yawned widely.
I smiled as I pulled the eggs and milk from the fridge.I couldn’t remember ever thinking a woman was as cute as Luciana.Everything she did fascinated me in some way.I’d be perfectly content to just sit and watch her.Although, that sounded a little creepy now that I thought about it.But I did like watching her twirl her hair around her finger, or the way she bit her lip when she was nervous.The shy smile she gave me at times.Everything about her made me want to learn even more.
Fuck.Me.I was falling in love with my wife.I’d realized a while back that I cared about her, more than I’d ever cared about a woman, but this was more than just caring.I wanted to see her smile, wanted to make her happy, give her everything she’d ever wanted and never had.Yep.I was in love with my wife.I glanced her way, but she wasn’t paying me the least bit of attention.I didn’t know if she’d be happy to hear that I’d fallen for her, or if it would scare her off.We hadn’t entered into this with love on either of our minds.It had been an agreement and nothing more.Yeah, sex had been part of it, but not emotions.
I finished the eggs and stuck the bread into the toaster.I knew she liked hers barely browned, so the level popped a minute later and I slathered the slices in butter before plating them.When I set the dish down in front of Luciana, she gave me a smile and her eyes shone with warmth.Taking care of her felt good.I’d taken care of my club for most of my life, even before I’d been the President, but this was different.With Ryker’s mom, we’d tolerated each other, but I hadn’t been ready to settle down.I’d run around on her and not treated her very well.I wouldn’t make that mistake with Luciana.
“You’re not eating?”she asked.
“I had something earlier.Fox came by early to discuss club business so I grabbed a quick meal before he showed up.I didn’t want to wake you since you were sleeping so peacefully.”
“He doesn’t scare me anymore,” she said, not looking at me.“If that’s part of why you didn’t wake me.I know he’s not the same man who hurt me.Everyone has treated me really well, and I’m comfortable here now.”
“I’m glad.They would lay down their lives for you, or for Violeta.”
“I know.It was hard not to see all men as evil.I’d never known anything else.Even Mr.VanHorne left me feeling skeptical.I’d only known that he was working with my father, but I hadn’t realized he was trying to make us safe.I thought he was a broker of sorts.”
“That’s what he wanted your father to think.I believe Mateo Gomez is on borrowed time.Not just as the head of the Colombian cartel, but in life as well.If Casper doesn’t end him, I damn sure will find a way to do it.I don’t want you to feel like you have to look over your shoulder all the time.”
“It’s not just him,” Luciana said.“You’d have to take down all his men as well.There isn’t a single one who is redeemable.All of them are rotten to the core.”
I nodded.“I figured as much.I’m hoping we can find enough of your father’s businesses that we can rescue any women who might be suffering at his hands, or because of his actions.If not my club directly, then others I trust.”
“You’re a good man.Honorable.I’m lucky to be your wife, even if we didn’t say vows in a church.”
I paused, my cup of coffee halfway to my mouth.“You want that?A church wedding?”
She shook her head.“It’s not important to me.When I was little, I would dream of my wedding day and finding the perfect prince who would adore me.As I got older and learned about the monsters living in the world, those dreams changed.I only wanted a place where I could feel safe.I have that with you, and more.I’m happy, Spider, and I don’t need a dress, flowers, or a church to make me feel any more married to you than I am.”
“Surge printed off a copy of a marriage certificate, even if it is completely fabricated by his computer skills, just like our marriage.As far as the state is concerned, we’re legally married thanks to his hacking, but you didn’t exactly agree to all this.If you’d like, we can frame it and hang it somewhere in the house, or I’ll give you a real wedding if you want one.”
She smiled brightly.“I’d like that.Framing the certificate.I don’t need a wedding.”
“You won’t have wedding pictures.Don’t women want that sort of thing?”I asked.
“Maybe we could just take some together here at the compound,” she said almost shyly.“Two houses down there’s a pretty tree with flowers.It would make a nice picture.”
“The dogwood outside Knox’s home?”I asked.Then I wasn’t sure she’d know what a dogwood was.Did they have those in Colombia?“Small tree with white flowers?”
She nodded.
“I think that can be arranged.And if you want to plant flowers or anything else around here, you’re welcome to.Just let me know what you need.”
“I guess if I have an appointment, I should start getting ready.”She leaned over and kissed my cheek.“Thank you.For everything you’ve done for me.”
