“I did. Should I have asked you first? I wanted it to be a surprise.”
I kiss him hard. “It’s more than okay. I know it will be rough with them having lost their parents, but my heart couldn’t take them being abandoned or sent off. They need stability. I’m happy you feel the same.”
“You always wanted a family. It isn’t conventional, but you will be the best mother figure to these children. You will give them everything that Bash says they never got from Karrisa.”
“I love you so much, Giovanni Catalini.”
“Not nearly as much as I love you, Isabella Dellaco.”
Mia
“Shhh, it’s okay, Elena. Daddy will be home soon.” I talk away to our beautiful daughter, even though she doesn’t understand.
Lo is out doing what he does best—protecting the family, which includes this little family we have built. My chest has hurt since the moment he walked out the door. I know if I go into the living room, at least five guards will be at different points around the house. Another ten are outside the house, protecting the perimeter. I wanted to go with them. I should be there in case they need me. I am their doctor, after all. Not only that, but I’m family.
I feel my blood starting to boil again. Not one of them would agree to let me go. I thought Isabella might have been on my side since she is all for independent women, but no. She agreed that I needed to stay home.
Elena cries out again, so I stop my pacing and negative thoughts and sit in the rocker.
“I know, baby girl. I needed to be here for you. I know that. I just want to be there for them too.”
She quiets down as soon as I position her for her feeding. I always thought breastfeeding was a little bit weird, but after researching throughout pregnancy, I decided to give it a try. I thought Lo might object, but he wholeheartedly agreed. He said he only wants the best for his baby.
Lo.
I never thought he would be the man he is today. He is still the same dark Lo, but now I see some of the light inside him. Every time he holds Elena, his eyes shine with the pride only a father could have. He is so gentle with her.
Then there are the tender moments with us. We still have a wild side that would cause a church girl to faint, but sometimes he brings the vanilla into the room, making sweet love to me. For a man who was so against giving this a shot, he sure has put himself all in.
I look down at my phone again, waiting for another update. Still nothing. My heart constricts in my chest. I talked to Lo about an hour ago, but he couldn’t give me much. All he could tell me was he was protecting Sofia and that Bash had not come back yet.
Please let them be okay.
I send the prayer up to whatever god will listen.
I sit here humming quietly to Elena, letting myself get lost in my thoughts. Sometimes thinking about the past while others worrying about our future.
I hear the front door open, and I tense.
We have a getaway plan in place. If things go south, the men here at the house are to whisk me away to an undisclosed location. Once there, I will be put on a plane and sent somewhere with a new passport and enough money to last me the rest of mine and Elena’s life.
Without Lo.
Without anyone from the family.
That is the deal. I will have to leave the entire family behind because if things go south, no one is to be trusted.
The door to the nursery slowly opens. The tears fall freely as I see Lo slide in.
“What are you doing up?” he whispers, not wanting to wake our now sleeping baby in my arms.
“I couldn’t sleep. Plus, you know your baby’s fussy.” He smiles at my words. He loves when I call her his.
“I know. How has she been?” He leans over and gently takes her from my arms before leaning in to kiss me.
“Hungry.” I chuckle. “She was good. I think she was just fussy because I’ve been tense. How is everyone?”
He smiles. “Everything went just as Bash planned. That man is scary when he needs to be. I can take fighting and physical stuff, but the way his mind works is wicked. I wouldn’t want to try and out strategize him.”
