Page 91 of His Vicious Vow
Brushing his lips over my cheek. “Same. I owe Tony Sabatini more than I could ever repay him. It wasn’t enough he brought you to me, he was there when you and Celia needed him most. You never told me that.”
Shrugging, I sigh. “You know I don’t like to talk about nonna. Celia can do it without getting teary but I can’t. Hopefully, one day I will. I was thinking the same thing about Tony. He talked me into going with him to Carlo’s and giving you five minutes. The five minutes didn’t start great but they got better.” I tease.
“Was that before or after I gave you the best orgasm of your life?” An eyebrow goes up.
“Hmm…that wasn’t the best orgasm of my life.” He loses his smile. “The best one so far, was when your cock was in my ass and the vibrator in my pussy. I’m counting down the days until we get to do it again.”
Throwing back his head he laughs. “I love you, piccolina. As much as I can’t stand Carlo, I do thank him for you. For the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“Say it again.” I whisper against his lips.
“I love you. So much I’ll never let you go no matter. I simply would not be able to.” The words are a solemn vow. No longer vicious, no longer scary, they are the promise I will hold in my heart until it stops beating.
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
Sandro
I swallow hard against the words as I run a finger over my newborn daughter’s cheek. Carina is smiling down at the baby in her arms. Then she says it again. “Filly, how sweet you are. Charlie is going to be so excited to meet you.”
Wincing, I consider for the thousandth time firing Natasha for somehow renaming Rose to Charlie from Charlotte. Then she encouraged Carina with this awful name. Using the nickname of Filly in the weeks since Carina considered the name. I don’t care if Natasha has become the cool aunt who adores Charlie and is watching her now with the assurance not to worry about either of them. I clear my throat, trying one last time. “Piccolina, are you sure? Filomena…is a rather unique name—”
Her green eyes narrow on me. “Yes, I’m sure. Her bedroom is prepared. You said I would get to pick the name of our children. Filomena isn’t a weird name like Rainbow or something. It’s a little old-fashioned but no more so than Charlotte. Are you telling me you’re going back on your word?”
Shit. I give in. “No, of course not. I…if you think it suits her then I agree.”
Laughter brings my eyes up from our daughter. “I got you!” She’s triumphant. “You should have seen your face.”
Brat. I shake my head. “I can’t believe you.” I mutter.
“Ludovica,” she rolls her eyes. “I warned you that I was going to get you back. I’m not that mean.” Handing me the baby, “I have Natasha repainting her wall already. What do you think of Serafina?”
Running my hand over our daughter’s head, I nod. “Serafina is a far more fitting name.”
I’m tugged down onto the hospital bed beside her. I wrap my arm around her. This delivery went as smoothly as Charlie’s but this was not planned. Serafina is almost four weeks early. Carina went into labor due to stress of finding out that the plane carrying Cassandra and Carlo went down. I’m not sure when I am going to share Valdez is almost positive it wasn’t an accident. At least not until Dominic and I have shared a conversation that lasted longer than five words. Mafia business can be handled later, “How are you feeling?”
She sighs as she lays her head on my chest. “Tired. Weary. They were the ones who…why do I feel guilty and so fucking sad?”
“Because you’re human. I don’t think anyone truly stops wishing their parent is a parent in the way they saw on television. You mourned the loss of the relationship but since they were still alive there was a probably a small part of you that hoped it was possible. That by some miracle you would have the storybook ending. I’m sure it’s a little more painful seeing Celia get the relationship she has with her mother-in-law and there is no hope of you having that as I don’t have a mother.” It was clear when we visited Celia in Chicago that Carina was envious of Celia calling her mother-in-law by simply mother.
“How do you get me? I swear sometimes you know me better than I know myself. Have I told you how much I love you today?” She nuzzles into my chest.
“Hmm…it was around three in the morning so technically, yes. But you know I’ll never get tired of hearing it.” I murmur as I edge her down onto the bed, careful to lay our daughter on my chest.
“I love you. I love how you get me…” Another sigh within minutes she’s asleep.
Serafina nuzzles her little fist and jams it in her mouth but doesn’t seem to have the sucking thing down yet. Her eyes are a light baby blue. I wonder when her eyes will change. Charlie’s eyes have grown into a silver gray over the last year from the blue-gray she had when she was born. Contentment flows through every inch of me. Holding my wife against me, with my second daughter on my chest I’m grateful for all I have that has nothing to do with what I thought I wanted.
Carina has slowly finished her manga and is wondering if she will try to find a publisher after all. There’s also a room filled with canvases she’s painted as now that she doesn’t have to worry about making clients happy she only does what she wants. I’ve told her I don’t care if she never sells one. All I care about is she’s happy and content.
I’m still running Vegas as efficiently and as strong as ever. The money is excellent and has increased by almost ten percent since I took over. While Carlo never let a chance go by to dig at me over the last year, he was impressed.
We’re still in the penthouse. I gave up my workout room for Serafina’s room. I’m surprised, but grateful Carina is in no rush to move from the property on the strip. Although I do think by the time we bring our third home we should do it an actual home. Carina laughed and said it wasn’t the windows and walls that made a house a home, it was the love inside that made it.
I’m proud of the success I’ve had and how happy Carina is but I’ll never get rid of the house in Switzerland. There are no guarantees in life, except she and our children will always come first so the house will always be there if a time comes when Vegas can no longer be our home. One thing I’ve learned in loving Carina, home truly is where the heart is, so as long as I have her the location doesn’t matter.
EPILOGUE