Page 123 of Little Deer
“She said earlier she’s not sure either, but I imagine he’ll convince her. But she’s her own person and can make her own decisions. I need to consider what’s best for Soren, not just myself.”
“I think you need to give him a chance,” Amara suggests gently.
“And if things don’t work out, you come back and Nico and I will help you,” Gia agrees. “You’re my sister, Lucy. I’d never leave you helpless.” Then she grins. “And I’m sure Nico will love a reason to kick Massimo’s ass. He’d prefer to go after Alessio, but he’d settle for his brother.”
We all laugh. “Thank you.” I look at them both. “I never thought I’d have a bunch of sisters and cousins in my life. I was happy growing up, and Kida will always be my sister, but I kind of like the idea of having a few more.”
“You’ll have no shortage of that now with so many of you going to end up over there,” Gia remarks. “I’m going to miss you all so much. It’ll be too quiet.”
“I have a feeling Nico will be glad to see the majority of us out of his house,” Amara snickers.
“ I guess that means I’ll have to come and visit you guys instead,” Gia grins.
We all smile at each other, but inside I’m still a little uneasy. What is going to happen to me and Massimo? Do I really want to leave all this behind and follow him hoping that it will all just work out? The thought freaks me out, but I’m also hopeful. Would it be easier if we left and went to Sicily? Would that help some of the fear I feel?
The men show up not long after, and Massimo wastes no time scooping me up into his arms and carrying me out. I look over his shoulder, and see Lazaro and Nico doing the same thing with their ladies.
“Oh I love this kind of air jail,” Amara laughs as she wraps her arms around Lazaro’s neck. He grins at her.
Massimo doesn’t slow down until we’re back to our room. “Soren still with Kida and Zeno?” he asks as he kicks the door shut. I nod. “Good. I need some time with you alone. Then we’ll go and get our son.”
My heart trips. I really do love that he calls Soren his. Some of the worries ease. Massimo tosses me on the bed and I laugh as I bounce. He kicks off his shoes, pulls mine off too, and then flops down on the bed beside me. He rolls, covering my body with his before pressing his mouth to mine.
I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him back deeply. He tastes so good.
When he pulls his mouth from mine, it’s only to rasp, “Fuck, Lucy. I was so fucking terrified when I heard you were in the passages and trapped by those bastards.”
“I know, I know,” I whisper, holding him tight. “I was so fucking scared, Massimo. Leonardo tried to say he was going to take him. If Tatiana hadn’t been there, I don’t know what we would have done.”
“That’s a fucking problem in itself, but I guess I’ll have to be happy that she has a small soft spot for you and the others.”
“I’m grateful and pissed at her for using Soren as a pawn to keep herself alive.”
“She doesn’t think the same as us,cerbiatta. That is a woman who will do anything and everything to get what she wants or to accomplish a job she’s been assigned. I’m sure it’s the last time we’ll see her. She’s not a family person, and she wants nothing to do with us.”
“I think that bothers Amara.”
He nods. “She thought she’d have a sister to talk to and enjoy like you do with Sienna and Gia, but I think she also understands. It’ll be easier when we all get back home and we can start living our lives normally. Our home is big enough that you don’t have to be in each other’s faces all the time, while also being able to see each other.”
I stare into his eyes. “You still want us to go with you?” Nerves skitter in my belly.
He frowns at me. “Of course I do. Lucy, I love you. I want you with me. I don’t care that it’s only been a few days. I know that I want you, I know that you are meant to be mine, and I know that Soren is also meant to be mine. Just because this part is over doesn’t mean anything has changed for me.”
Tears fill my eyes while relief fills the rest of me. “I’m terrified that we’re going to get there, start living our lives, and then you’ll change your mind. Realize that it was just the heat of the moment or something.”
“Never,” he says vehemently. He goes up on his elbows, his hands cupping my face. “Time means nothing, Lucy, not in thisworld. There are many families that don’t give their children choices. They don’t have anywhere near the connection you and I do, but they make it work. You and I, we’re starting on a far more solid foundation, even in only a couple of days. Anything that comes up that we need to work through, we will. We’ll fight, we’ll make up, we’ll compromise, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making you, Soren, and our future children happy.”
“But what if I have a hard time accepting your life?”
“Then we figure it out,but this is my life, Lucy. I can’t leave the mafia, and I don’t want to. This, this is not what our life is like. Back home, Papa is one of the most respected Don’s in the country. We’re peaceful for the most part, and you can live your life doing whatever you like. As long as you’re at my side, in my bed at night, and we love each other, then that’s all that matters. Everything else is secondary. I need you to trust me.”
“I do trust you. My head is swirling with so many things right now.” I swallow hard, feeling like I’m ready to jump off a cliff. To admit something that feels so monumental. “I love you, Massimo. That’s what scares me. I know you love Soren, or you wouldn’t accept him as easily as you do, but loving a son and loving his mother are not mutually exclusive.”
“Cerbiatta, I love you, and while you’re right, they’re not, how could I not love the woman who gave me her son? Who trusted me with him so completely? Who makes me feel complete and whole for the first time in my life?” He presses another long, slow kiss to my mouth. “I love you, Lucy. I love you exactly as you are, and I want to build a life with you. With Soren. I want it all. I just need you to trust me and to give me that chance.”
“Okay,” I whisper, nodding. It’s terrifying, but also exciting. Then I grin at him. “Is now the time to tell you that I really want a library like Gia’s?”
Massimo laughs and grins. “Cerbiatta, you can have whatever you want. We have a whole wing of the house we can renovate to suit you.” He leans down to nip at my lip and gives me a sensual grin this time. “But make sure that you leave one room for us. I have plans for it.”
