Epilogue
Vida
Three Years Later
I can’t help but laugh as Carmela and I swap stories of diaper disasters.
“Honestly,” I say, wiping a tear of laughter from my eye, “I think changing diapers has to be the worst part of raising kids.”
Carmela grins, her eyes sparkling with the same mischief they always do. “You can say that again. I have no idea who my kid takes it from. Cito or Franchesco. Good thing we decided not to know whose it is, ‘cause I definitely wouldn’t let him rest.”
I glance over at the two little terrors who are already causing havoc in the living room. One with piercing blue eyes and the other with warm brown eyes, both of them troublemakers in the best possible way.
“Can you two go call your daddy? I need help here!” I shout, my voice stern but playful.
They stop for a moment, their eyes lighting up with the same curiosity and mischief that mirrors Ciro’s. They giggle and nod before running off toward the hallway, their little feet stomping away. I can definitely imagine what Ciro’s mom felt when she had twins running around the house.
I turn back to Carmela, wiping my hands on the table cloth.
“I can’t wait to see Izzy’s boyfriend,” I tease, giggling as I remember all the times I’ve teased her about him. “I swear it’s Henry Cavill.”
“Or maybe hotter? Have you seen that man’s torso? Please,” she almost moans, making me laugh harder.
Just as she finishes her sentence, Izzy comes rushing into the room, her face glowing with excitement. “I need help, Mom won’t let him come in. She’s all over the poor man!”
Carmela and I exchange a look, our hearts racing with curiosity. We’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. Izzy’s boyfriend, who is also her boss, is finally making an appearance. The tension, the anticipation, it is almost like meeting a celebrity, and now my mother has decided to keep him to herself? Hell no!
“Let’s go get that man!” I say, letting Carmela lead the way.
Before I can walk out the door, I feel two strong hands grip my waist from behind, pulling me close against a firm chest. The scent of his cologne, the familiar warmth of his body, it is my favorite feeling in the world.
“Slow down, little chaos,” Ciro’s deep voice rumbles next to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “If you don’t mind, slow down, let me just adore you.”
I giggle as I let him pull me tighter against him, letting him plant kisses against my neck. I can’t help but smile at how effortlessly he still makes me feel like the most adored woman in the world.
“You know,” I murmur, “your kids won’t stop running around.”
He presses another kiss to the bridge of my nose, his lips lingering for a moment before pulling back slightly to look into my eyes.
“They aren’t running now,” he says, his voice low, almost teasing. “So, how about we slow dance while no one bothers us?”
Before I can respond, his hands move to hold me and we start to sway gently together, our bodies moving in perfect sync, like we’ve been doing this forever.
“I can’t remember what life was like before you, Ciro,” I whisper, my voice full of emotion as I rest my head against his chest. “But I’m certain I would’ve traded it all for a moment like this.”
His arms tighten around me and for a moment, he doesn’t say anything. He just holds me. After a few moments, he speaks softly.
“Thank you for finding your way to me, chaos,” he says, his voice breaking slightly.
I want to tell him that I’ll always find my way to him, no matter what lifetime we’re in, but he continues before I can say anything.
“For giving me those two minions,” he pauses and I feel the softest kiss on the top of my head, “and for carrying the third one so beautifully. I don’t deserve you.”
I tilt my head back to look up at him, and as I do, his mouth finds my earlobe, sucking on it without mercy.
“Then I guess you’ll have to show me how thankful you are tonight,” I tease, watching the effect my words have on him.
His eyes darken with desire, and his hands tighten around my waist. “You say things like that and now we have another baby on the way.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I don’t see or hear you complaining.”
“With a needy pussy like yours? I was born to fuck it till I die,” he whispers before his tongue grazes my neck.
Maybe tonight is too long to wait.
“I guess you’ll give me an early birthday surprise, Mr Ballera,” I say, lightly grabbing his dick through his pants.
“I’ll be waiting upstairs, Mrs. Ballera,” he says, kissing me before letting me go.
I smile at him as I take one last glance at our children running back to the living room to meet Matteo and Dad. My perfect window to escape before they ambush me.
“Chaos,” he calls as I take my first step out the door, making me turn to face him.
“I’ll let the world burn for you. Everything to ashes, just for you,” he says, his words more of a sealed promise.
“I know baby, I know,” I reply, taking one last look at the book tattoo he has on his hand, the one that matches the one I have on my thigh. Who knew that one day, half my body would be covered in matching tattoos as my husband?
Fucking hell, life is perfect!