40. Luca
40
LUCA
M ia’s smile is like a beam of sunlight after the longest, darkest night of my life.
“Say it again,” I murmur, staring down at her, my heart so full I think it might burst.
“We’re going to have a baby,” she whispers, her eyes shining with a mix of wonder and disbelief.
A baby. Our baby. I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, and then to her cheeks, her nose—everywhere I can reach, needing to feel her warmth beneath my lips. Needing to assure myself that she’s really here, really alive, and that this miracle is real.
She giggles softly, the sound sweet and breathless, and I can feel her trembling with the effort. But even as I start to pull back, worried about causing her pain, she tugs me closer.
“Don’t,” she rasps, her voice strained but firm. “Don’t you dare stop kissing me.”
I grin, my chest tightening at her words. “As you wish, Bella mia ,” I whisper against her skin, brushing my lips over hers in a tender, feather-light kiss. “I’ll kiss you forever if that’s what you want.”
“I do,” she murmurs, her smile widening. “But… I’d settle for now, because forever sounds exhausting.”
Despite myself, a laugh escapes me. “Already tired of me?” I tease, stroking her cheek with the back of my hand.
“Never,” she whispers. “But, Luca… I–I really can’t believe this is happening.”
“Neither can I,” I admit softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her forehead. “I thought I’d lost you. You have no idea—” I break off, swallowing hard against the emotion clogging my throat. “God, Mia. I’m so sorry. For everything.”
She squeezes my hand weakly, her eyes softening. “Stop apologizing. I’m here. We’re… we’re okay, right?”
My chest tightens, and I nod, not trusting myself to speak. I can still see it, even with my eyes open—the blood pouring from her body, her face pale and slack, her breathing ragged. And then… nothing. Just darkness. An endless, terrifying silence.
“I thought I’d lost you,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I thought…”
“But you didn’t,” she murmurs gently, reaching up to touch my cheek. “You saved me, Luca.”
“I shot you,” I choke out, the words burning in my throat. “I… fuck , Mia. I?—”
“And then you saved me,” she interrupts softly, her gaze steady. “You got me to the hospital. You made sure I was taken care of. And now…” Her smile wavers, but it’s still there, as beautiful and stubborn as she is. “Now we’re having a baby. Our baby.”
It hits me all over again—the magnitude of what she’s saying—and I can’t stop the tears that blur my vision. A baby. I never thought… I never let myself think that I’d have this. That I’d deserve this. And yet here she is, holding my hand, telling me we’re going to be parents.
“You’re going to be an amazing mom,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
“And you’re going to be an amazing dad,” she murmurs, her smile softening.
My heart stutters at her words. Dad . I’m going to be a dad. The thought is terrifying and exhilarating all at once, and I feel a fierce, overwhelming surge of protectiveness flood through me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her—and our baby—safe. I’ll be the man they both deserve.
But then reality crashes back in, and I remember the others waiting outside. The family who loves her just as fiercely as I do.
The family I nearly tore apart with my reckless quest for vengeance.
I clear my throat, brushing a kiss to her knuckles. “Mia… Your sisters and your mom… they’ve been wanting to see you. I… I didn’t tell them you were awake yet.”
Her eyes widen, surprise flickering across her face. “You mean… you’ve been holding them off?”
“Barely,” I mutter, a rueful smile tugging at my lips. “A Mob fight would have been easier.”
She laughs—actually laughs —and the sound is like music. I’d give anything to keep hearing it, even though she winces almost immediately, clutching at her chest.
“Don’t make me laugh,” she groans, but her eyes are still sparkling. “God, I’m shocked they haven’t stormed in here and dragged you out by your hair.”
“They nearly did,” I admit, grinning despite myself. “But… I told them I wanted you to wake up first before they saw you. It was… hard for them to see you after surgery.”
Her gaze softens, and she squeezes my hand again. “Thank you,” she whispers. Then she tilts her head toward the door, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “But you should probably let them know before they break down the door.”
I chuckle, leaning in to kiss her one last time. “I’ll be right back,” I promise, brushing my thumb over her cheek. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’m not planning to,” she murmurs, smiling up at me.
With a deep breath, I step out of the room, closing the door gently behind me. The hallway feels too bright, too empty after the warmth of Mia’s presence. But as soon as I turn the corner and step into the waiting room, I’m met with four pairs of furious, anxious eyes.
“Is she okay?” Sofia demands, her voice sharp and panicked. “Is she?—”
“She’s awake,” I say quickly, holding up my hands. “She’s okay.”
Anna bursts into tears, her hands flying to her mouth, and Chiara lets out a choked sob. Even Bianca, who’s been glaring daggers at me for days, seems to sag with relief. They all surge to their feet, crowding toward me, their faces etched with worry and hope.
“She’s really awake?” Sofia whispers, her eyes wide. “She’s?—”
“She’s awake,” I repeat softly, my gaze sweeping over their faces. “She’s awake, and she wants to see you.”
There’s a heartbeat of silence, and then Anna lets out a broken cry and rushes past me, her heels clicking furiously against the floor. The sisters are hot on her heels, practically tripping over each other in their haste to get to Mia. I follow slowly, lingering behind, watching as they tumble into the room.
“Mia!” Anna cries, throwing herself at the bed. “Oh, my baby ?—”
“Mama,” Mia gasps, laughing weakly. “Careful, I’m?—”
But Anna’s sobbing too hard to listen, clutching Mia’s hand in both of hers, her shoulders shaking with relief. “You’re okay. You’re really okay. Oh, thank God, thank God !”
Sofia and Chiara are right behind her, both talking at once, their voices high and breathless.
“Don’t you ever scare us like that again?—”
“Jesus, Mia, you look like hell?—"
“God, I thought we’d lost you?—”
Bianca, hanging back by the door, doesn’t say anything. But her eyes are wet, her mouth trembling, and when Mia turns her gaze on her, she crumples.
“Get over here,” Mia rasps, holding out her hand. “Don’t make me come to you.”
With a soft, choked laugh, Bianca crosses the room in two long strides and wraps her arms around her sister, burying her face in Mia’s hair.
And just like that, they’re all together again. Laughing, crying, holding each other like they’re afraid to let go. The love between them is palpable, filling the room with a warmth that makes my chest tighten painfully.
This is what I almost destroyed.
I nearly ripped this family apart, all because I couldn’t let go of my hatred, my need for revenge. I glance at Mia, watching as she soothes her mother and teases her sisters, her smile bright despite the pain that still shadows her eyes.
She’s the most open-hearted, loving woman I’ve ever met. And I…
“Luca?” Sofia’s voice breaks into my thoughts, sharp and wary. “Did you tell her…?”
I blink, confused. I have no idea what she’s talking about. “Tell her what?”
Before she can respond, Mia shifts, looking up at her sisters with a small, hesitant smile. “Actually, there’s something I need to tell you,” she murmurs.
They all fall silent, their eyes wide and questioning. Even Anna stops crying long enough to look at her daughter, her face still blotchy and tear-streaked.
Mia takes a deep breath, glancing at me, and then she smiles.
“I’m pregnant.”
The room goes silent as her words hang in the air, almost too surreal to believe. For a heartbeat, nobody moves. Nobody breathes. I can practically see the wheels turning in their heads, trying to make sense of what Mia just said.
Then Anna gasps, pressing a hand to her mouth. “Pregnant?” she squeaks. “You mean, with a baby ?”
“Mama, that’s usually how pregnancy works,” Bianca mutters, her voice wry. But even she’s staring at Mia with wide, astonished eyes.
“Are you serious?” Sofia breathes, her gaze darting between Mia and me, her shock palpable. “You’re…”
“Dead serious,” Mia murmurs, her smile widening. “We’re going to have a baby.”
And then the silence shatters.
“You’re going to be a mom ?” Chiara shrieks, flinging herself at Mia’s bedside, her voice high and breathless. “You’re going to be a mom , oh, my God?—”
“Jesus, Mia, you could have warned us!” Bianca exclaims, shaking her head like she’s trying to clear it. “We just got used to your not dying , and now you’re dropping this on us?”
“Give her a break,” Sofia teases, brushing a tear from her cheek. “I think almost dying gives her a free pass to drop bombshells.”
“Still,” Bianca mutters, narrowing her eyes at me, but there’s no malice in her gaze now—just wariness and a hint of something softer. “Does he know how to handle a baby? Because if I see so much as a scratch on my niece or nephew?—”
“ Our niece or nephew,” Sofia interjects, crossing her arms as she fixes me with a stern glare. “And don’t think for a second that we won’t be watching you, Luca.”
“Like a hawk,” Chiara agrees, folding her arms. “A very pissed-off hawk.”
Despite the humor in their words, there’s a fierce protectiveness in their eyes that makes my chest tighten. They’re still wary. Still hesitant. But they love her, and now—somehow—they’re extending that love to our unborn child, too.
I clear my throat, meeting their gazes head-on. “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I say quietly, and I mean it.
The sisters exchange glances, their expressions softening just a fraction. Anna’s still crying, but now there’s a smile in her tears as she turns to me, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” she murmurs, her voice trembling but sincere. “Luca… thank you. Even though you are the reason my daughter is here, you also saved her. You brought her back to us.”
I can only nod, the words stuck in my throat. I don’t deserve their thanks. I don’t deserve any of this. But I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I’m worthy of the love Mia’s given me.
“I… I won’t let her down,” I say hoarsely. “I won’t let any of you down.”
Then, without warning, they’re all hugging me—tightly, fiercely. Even Anna, though she looks like she’d rather strangle me, wraps her arms around me, sobbing.
It’s awkward and uncomfortable and a little terrifying, but…
It’s everything .
Because for the first time, I feel like I’m not just a monster who stole their sister. I feel like—maybe, just maybe—I’m part of their family.
The feeling is overwhelming. My chest tightens, and I blink rapidly, trying to keep my emotions in check. But when I glance at Mia, she’s watching me with tears in her eyes, her smile soft and understanding.
She’s the one who did this. She’s the one who took all the broken, twisted parts of me and put them back together. She’s the one who showed me what forgiveness looks like, what love looks like.
And now she’s giving me a family. A real family. One that I never thought I’d deserve.
I blink hard, fighting back tears, and look around the room. At Mia’s sisters, still talking excitedly. At Anna, sniffling but smiling. At Mia, glowing with happiness.
I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure I never take this for granted. Making sure I’m the man she—and our child—deserve.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. I don’t know if I’m saying it to Mia or to all of them, but it doesn’t matter.
They all turn to look at me, their expressions softening, and for a moment, everything feels… right .
Then Bianca’s smile turns wicked. “Don’t think this means we like you,” she says, raising an eyebrow.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “I’d never make that mistake.”
But deep down, I know. I know that somehow, I’m no longer just the enemy. I’m no longer the man who almost tore this family apart.
I’m… something else .
And for the first time, I think I might be okay with whatever that means.
Because Mia is mine. Our baby is ours.
And that’s more than I ever dared to dream of.