41. Christina
Christina
41
I’m okay . I survived. I’m going to be okay.
I can hardly believe it.
Nico has insisted on carrying me everywhere as I try to recover. There’s nothing wrong with my ability to walk, but I let him do it anyway. Snuggled up against his chest, protected by his strong arms, watched over by him and Enzo – is my favorite place to be.
My nest of safety.
There will be time to cope. To process what’s happened. But that time is definitely not today. Not right now.
“You got them all, right?” I ask, nervously. I keep having nightmares about being kidnapped again. That woman’s face haunts my dreams, her voice telling me that I’m to be sold.
Enzo kisses me gently. “They’re all gone, princess. Your friend Julia was working with the Cossi family. We spared her for you. We figured you would want to decide her fate later. But everyone else? The Cossi family, their cousins - everyone who touched you is gone.”
I nod my head, relieved, clinging to them tighter.
There’s one more thing that I have to tell them and it’s making me anxious.
The baby.
According to my mom, the doctor said everything is fine.
But I still haven’t officially told them. I need to.
I need to know what’s going to happen to me. To us.
In order to know, I have to tell them.
We reach our suite of rooms and Nico carefully enters and places me down in the middle of my bed.
He comes to lay down on one side of me and Enzo lays on the other.
It’s now or never.
“I, uh.” My words stick to the inside of my mouth. From nerves, from exhaustion. It’s all been too much. I hold myself tighter.
“It’s okay, princess,” Enzo says. He snuggles closer to me. “You don’t have to talk about it yet if you don’t want to.”
They don’t understand.
“Don’t move,” Nico says, reaching over to my nightstand and grabbing my hairbrush. I blush when he runs it through my tangled locks.
“Good girl.” He whispers, leaning forward to kiss my forehead. “Let us take care of you, Angel.”
“Wait,” I say, chewing on my lip. “I need to talk to you. To both of you.” I make a point of looking them both in their eyes. I don’t want to lose the confidence I’ve built in this moment.
“It can wait, Angel,” Nico says, stroking my hair. “You don’t have to relive everything today.”
“No.” I protest, “I need to.”
“Christina, what is it?” Enzo asks, nuzzling my neck.
“We'd go to any lengths for you,” Nico whispers softly, his touch tender as he gently holds my face in his hands, his warm breath mingling with mine. “Don’t feel responsible for what’s happened.”
Feeling their protective presence surrounding me like a shield fills me with a surge of gratitude. They came for me without hesitation. The realization hits me like a tidal wave, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
I nod my head, grateful for what he’s said.
“This isn’t easy for me to say.” I look between the two.
“Christina, what’s wrong?” Nico's worry is evident as he enfolds me in a comforting embrace.
I need to just do it. Like ripping off a band-aid. Just… say the words.
“I... I'm pregnant,” I blurt out.
Their arms tighten around me, but they don’t say anything.
After a long moment, I look up at them.
“You’re not mad?” I cautiously inquire.
“Mad?” Enzo chuckles softly. “How could we ever be mad at you?”
“We're thrilled,” Nico adds quickly. “You've made us a family.”
“But... I don’t know whose child it is.”
“Christina,” Nico reassures me with a gentle kiss on my forehead. “I told you already. It doesn't matter whose it is. It's ours now. And we'll love this baby together.”
"But… am I enough? For both of you?" Insecurities bubble up as doubt clouds my thoughts.
Nico's gaze sharpens while Enzo's expression darkens slightly at the unexpected question.
“What do you mean, are you enough?” Nico questions softly, his touch gentle yet commanding. “Who told you that you wouldn’t be enough for us?”
“I just…”
Enzo enfolds me in his embrace from behind and plants a tender kiss on my forehead.
Nico lifts my chin with firm fingers, locking eyes with mine intensely.
“You are our Queen, Christina. Always.” His lips meet mine in a claiming kiss that I feel all the way down to my toes.
“Who are you?” Enzo asks, stroking my cheek.
“I’m your Queen,” I say softly.
“For eternity,” Nico corrects gently but firmly.
“Longer, if we can manage it,” Enzo laughs, kissing me.
“Even after death,” I say, wrapping my arms around both of them. My heart is full.
These are my men, my home, and my family.
Forever.