Epilogue
Ten Years Later
“It’s official, you guys need to stop having kids,” Romero said.
Massimo laughed as he watched his twin sons, two daughters, and eldest son suddenly jump on top of their uncle. He was not going to help them. Instead, he was going to enjoy his large mug of hot chocolate as he held onto his very pregnant wife.
Ten years, with five children and a sixth on the way. He had kept Elsie as pregnant as she could be.
It was once again Christmastime, and like every year before, Elsie loved to have family around. Massimo had warned her to keep her distance from the D’Angelos and of course, his wife didn’t listen.
Much to his surprise, the D’Angelos, although hesitant because of what their daughter had done, had also embraced Elsie as if she was their daughter. For the last ten Christmases, he had them in his home.
There was Romero and his wife, and their little daughter, Francine. He’d been surprised by his brother finding love with one of the other capo’s daughters. There had been a great deal of negotiations to deal with but Massimo had done it for his brother.
Elsie included them as part of the family.
She had gone from being the gold-digging whore to the woman who had the best parties and family gatherings. Everyone within their circle wanted to get an invitation from Elsie. How quickly their opinion changed. It might also help that he made sure no one ever treated her with anything but respect.
He’d broken tradition, like D’Angelo had. Glancing at the older man, he saw the smile in the man’s eyes.
Massimo had expected there to be bad blood between them, and certainly from his wife. But it would seem they had both come to the realization about what Isabella was capable of, and it was up to Franco to deal with it.
They had talked many times, and D’Angelo believed it had been Elsie to save them. She had come into their world and made them realize how destructive their daughter had become, and with it, how dangerous.
Elsie would not let them be alone.
“Are you hating this?” Elsie asked.
“I’m thinking that cabin is looking pretty inviting,” he said.
They rarely got to go to the cabin, and when they did he never allowed Elsie to bring the kids. It had become their personal safe haven, where he got to spend uninterrupted time with his wife.
Elsie laughed. “Then I better wish you a very Merry Christmas early, because Romero and Rachel have promised to take the kids for the New Year. You and I will have one week alone together. I already have everything arranged for us to be there without any needs from the outside world.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“It has been an hour.”
He tutted. “Then it has been too long. You know, I think it is a damn good thing I kidnapped you when I did.”
“That’s strange, because I was thinking it was a damn good thing you walked into that café when you did.”
The End