Epilogue
Antonio
I t’s been three months since the war with Salvatore, and things have calmed down a bit. I’ve reclaimed what was left of our territory.
Peter somehow survived being shot twice. He’s paralyzed from his neck down to his legs. I wouldn’t call that living. I call it karma for what he did to his daughters and to my family.
The sound of Vivienne’s laughter catches my attention. She’s standing across the field with Harper, Agatha, Ginny, and Mariana, laughing at something Ginny said.
My wife looks breathtaking in her white dress, with the wind ruffling her hair. She looks even better with the bump.
No matter how much time passes, it still makes my heart flutter knowing she’s carrying my child, a symbol of our love for each other.
“I’ll bet all the money I have that it’ll be a boy,” Luca says beside me. “I can’t wait to teach him how to throw punches and shoot guns.”
“My money is on that it’s girl,” Lorenzo argues. “A little Mancini princess. I’ll protect her with my life.”
Dario huffs a laugh. “You two are something.” He looks at me. “What do you think?”
“I’m not thinking, man.” It’s impossible to think when my wife looks so goddamn beautiful in the white dress she’s wearing. The only thought on my mind is how to sneak her out of the gender reveal party, rip that dress off her, and make love to her like it’s the first time.
Dario follows my line of vision, and a mischievous smile takes up his entire face. “Of course, you’re not thinking.” He slaps my shoulder gently. “You two are gonna make great parents.”
I nod. “We will.” And even if I am not such a great father, Vivienne will make a great mom.
Vivienne’s gaze meets mine, and she waves at me to come over.
I don’t think twice as I abandon my friends and start towards her. She’s been bubbly a lot lately. All smiles and happiness. It’s contagious and I’ve found myself smiling a lot as well.
I snake my arms around her waist when I reach her and kiss her lips. “Hey, baby.”
She pouts playfully. “Which baby? You have two now?”
I smile at her. “How are my two babies doing?”
“Your babies are doing well.” She giggles. God, I fall in love with this woman every single day. “It’s time to pop the balloon.”
“Oh.” I’m anxious as fuck right now, but I don’t let it show. I don’t give a shit if our baby is a boy or a girl. All I care about is that they’re born safely. I hold Vivienne’s hand. “Let’s do this.”
We walk to the table where the oversized black balloon is tied down, floating gently in the breeze. The crowd gathers around us, buzzing with excitement. Vivienne’s hand is warm in mine, her grip firm yet comforting.
“Are you ready?” she asks, glancing up at me, her emerald eyes sparkling with joy and mischief.
I nod, my heart racing. “I’ve never been more ready.”
She smiles and squeezes my hand.
Our friends and family gather close—Harper bouncing on her toes, Luca grinning like a kid in a candy store, and Lorenzo looking as protective as ever. Dario has his phone out, clearly recording every second, and Ginny is clutched to his side.
Mariana has a bright smile on her face, one I haven’t seen since Dante was killed. She looks more than excited about becoming a grandma.
“On the count of three!” Vivienne announces, her voice carrying over the cheerful chatter.
I take the pin, and she hands it to me. Together, we hold it against the taut surface of the balloon.
“One,” she starts, her voice trembling with excitement.
“Two,” I echo, my gaze fixed on hers instead of the balloon.
“Three!” we shout together, and I press the pin into the balloon.
POP!
Blue confetti bursts into the air, fluttering down like a thousand tiny snowflakes. Gasps and cheers erupt around us, but all I hear is Vivienne’s delighted laugh as she throws her arms around me.
“It’s a boy!” she squeals, her face lighting up with pure joy. “We’re gonna have a boy.”
A grin splits my face as I lift her off the ground, spinning her in a circle. “A boy,” I repeat, the words tasting sweeter than I could’ve imagined. A son. I’m going to be a father to a little boy.
I swear I’ve never been happier than I am at this moment.
Luca punches the air. “I knew it! Little Mancini warrior incoming!”
Lorenzo laughs but looks over at me, his voice filled with sincerity. “He’s going to have the best parents. You’ll raise a king.”
The rest of the group congratulates us, their excitement palpable, but all I can focus on is Vivienne. She’s beaming, her hands cradling her growing bump. I place my palm gently over hers, feeling the warmth beneath her skin.
“Our son,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her softly. “Our little prince.”
She smiles against my lips, her voice trembling with emotion. “Our family.”
In that moment, nothing else matters. The world may have been a battlefield before, but now, it feels like peace. And I’ll protect this peace with all I have.
I will gladly lay my life down for my wife and son because they’re all that matters to me. They’ll be all that will ever matter to me now and forever.
THE END