Page 102 of Vengeful Vows

In the hallway, Sergio pushes away from the wall.

Shocking all of us, I give him a hug and wish him a happy new year.

After clearing his throat, he straightens his tie.

Grinning, Nico and I walk to the elevator, Sergio falling in step behind us.

My husband keeps his hands off me until we’re in the room. Then he rips off my dress, baring my breasts to him the same way he did on our wedding day. But this time, I tear his clothing too.

He tosses me on the bed and advances on me. Then he pins my hands to the mattress above my head. “I love you, Bella.”

“Fuck me, Nico.”

“My pleasure, little flower. And then we’ll spend the rest of the night making love. It will take forever for me to get enough of you.”

Thankfully, that’s the exact amount of time we have together.

And I can’t wait to get started.

EPILOGUE

Bella

As I enterthe living room, Nico sweeps his gaze over me and desire flares in his eyes. “Did you dress that way hoping I’d take you back to bed, little flower?”

I laugh as feminine response flows through me.

It’s Sunday afternoon in late January, and I’m wearing low heels and a conservative dress.

The way my husband is studying me, I might as well be naked.

If he makes love to me one more time today, we will definitely be late. As it is, we will be lucky to be on time.

Since the impromptu and informal renewal of our vows on New Year’s Day, he’s been insatiable. More, he’s a lovingly devoted husband, every bit the man I’ve always wanted him to be.

I’m grateful Aunt Gina counseled me to have patience with him. I can’t imagine having missed out on this joy.

“We’d better leave before I change my mind entirely,” he says.

Within minutes, Sergio has us on our way to River Oaks.

I enjoy our Sunday afternoons even more now because I missed so many of them. I’ve discovered that being part of a family matters to me.

And my relationship with Alessandro is stronger than ever.

Only recently did I discover that before Nico drove to Galveston to meet me, he had a meeting with my brother and Giancarlo Fontana where he returned their businesses to them, at a cost of millions of dollars to him.

When I asked him why he hadn’t told me that night on the balcony, he shrugged and said it was the right thing to do and didn’t want the knowledge to influence my decision.

The act made me love him even more.

We arrive at the Moretti home and are greeted warmly.

Matteo mentions that Dante, his middle brother, will be late and that we will not be waiting for him.

Discussion over dinner turns to next month’s gathering in Las Vegas, and then Don Raffaele leans forward and says, “There will be an opening in the family business for a communications director.”

My lips slightly parted in shock, I look at Nico who is smiling. He expected this and didn’t prepare me?