Page 78 of Broken Princess

I kiss her gently, savoring the taste of her lips.

With a smile, she settles back into my embrace and we both close our eyes. I stroke her hair until I hear the subtle sound of her breathing shift as she falls asleep.

I carefully lift her into my arms and carry her upstairs to her room on the second floor. It's not as much privacy as I'd like, but I know she's going to be stressed if she can't hear Miceli, and it's just for the time being. We have our entire future to be off on our own, and for the woman I love, I'm happy to wait.

I place her down in bed and pull the covers up over her, leaning in to kiss her forehead before I leave the room and shut the door quietly. I head down the hall to Miceli's office, which has become mine while he's out of commission, to get some work done.

I still can't believe I'm responsible for handling matters in the Carillo family, even if it is only temporary. I never could have imagined this was the way my life would turn out, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

CHAPTER 42

AMELIA

As the days turn into weeks, my father's recovery progresses well, and Lorenzo's parents agree to let us stay with him until things are more stable. It's a weight off my shoulders, and I'm grateful that they've been so understanding and supportive, even if I can tell his father still has his trepidations.

Still, I'm pregnant with Lorenzo's baby, and in a world this traditional, that's that.

The baby has started to kick more often, and I can't help but feel excited as the time draws nearer and nearer. It's still hard to believe I’m going to be a mom, even though I’m well into my third trimester by now.

Lorenzo and I have talked about names, but naming her after my mother was actually his idea. I know he suggested it for my sake, but he seemed happy enough about it, and I was touched that he wanted to honor my mother in that way.

As excited as I am, the closer I get to my due date, the more anxious I get about labor and delivery. I’ve been reading up on it, but there's only so much that can prepare me for the real thing.

But I know I'm in good hands. Lorenzo will be there with me every step of the way, and I trust him implicitly. And he and my father have both been interviewing—and probably threatening—doctors until they settled on one they could both agree on.

Eventually, as much as I've tried to stay busy to keep my mind off my nerves, I have come to accept that I can't do all that much. I feel like I have a beach ball attached to my midsection, and it's getting harder and harder to get around.

Of course, that means my father is constantly fussing over me and hovering, which is starting to get on my nerves. I know he's just worried, but I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself.

Not that Lorenzo is much better.

There are worse things than being surrounded by overprotective men who would do anything for me, and they have proven that on more than one occasion, I remind myself. Especially when I felt like an outcast in my own family for so long.

Dad and I have at least had plenty of time to work on mending our relationship. It still isn't perfect, but things are definitely better than they have been at any other point in my life.

I'm glad I have more time to be at home with him, if I'm being honest with myself, especially since it's the first time we can just breathe and exist without pressure coming from all directions.

Even if he is still overbearing and way too controlling for my liking.

I’ve come to realize that it's out of love and he's doing his best, though, just like my mother was. Just like they both did so many years ago when they were young and trying to figure things out.

They might not have been able to, but I'm grateful that things are different for me and Lorenzo. And I have hope that now that my father is free of a marriage that has always been as much of a prison to him as it was to Natalie, he will be able to move on and find happiness of his own one day. Natalie has certainly already done that with Stefan's father, and while I don't even want to think about how brutal the fallout in the Romero family must have been, I am relieved that it isn't directly connected to us.

Not anymore.

And with Stefan's promise of an alliance of peace between our families, I have reason to hope it will continue on that way.

This afternoon, Anthony is paying me a much-needed visit since he's been busy with the end of the semester and I’ve been going stir crazy in the house. I go to answer the door even though I know the maid will be fussing about it, but I have to get some exercise in somehow.

"Anthony!" I cry, throwing my arms around him as soon as he walks in. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

"Same to you," he says with a laugh, embracing me. He pulls back, his hands on my shoulders. "Look at you. You're glowing."

"Like a lightbulb," I say flatly. "And it feels like I’m as round as one."

"Oh, stop," he scoffs, following me into the sitting room where he has a glass of wine and I have some seltzer. It's a good thing I wasn't really a drinker to begin with, because the list of things I'm supposed to have is pretty short.

"So, how have you been?" I ask once we get settled in. "How's school? How was the dance? Tell me everything, and don't leave any details out."

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